Cognitive limitations in occupationally active malignant brain tumour survivors.
BACKGROUND
Occupationally active malignant brain tumour survivors (MBTS) are rarely studied. However, cognitive limitations with the potential to impact work are commonly reported in MBTS.


OBJECTIVE
To obtain a better understanding of factors that are associated with cognitive limitations in employed MBTS.


METHODS
The study was performed by means of a web-based survey. Occupationally active MBTS (n = 113) and a non-cancer comparison group (n = 123) were recruited. While accounting for demographics, medical factors, health behaviours and problem-solving orientation, the relationship among measures of symptom burden (fatigue, depression and anxiety) and cognitive limitations were investigated.


RESULTS
MBTS (average 4 years post-diagnosis) reported higher levels of physical fatigue (P < 0.001), depression (P < 0.001) and anxiety (P < 0.01). MBTS reported more overall cognitive limitations (P < 0.001), memory (P < 0.001), executive function (P < 0.001) and attention (P < 0.001) deficits. Education (B = -3.4, 95% CI = -6.7 to 0.1), ethnicity (B = 5.2, 95% CI = 0.6-9.8), job stress (B = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.5-6.4), depressive symptoms (B = 0.7, 95% CI = 0.1-1.3) and negative problem solving (B = 4.2, 95% CI = 1.5-7.0) were also associated with higher levels of cognitive limitations in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Occupationally active MBTS report higher levels of cognitive limitations. However, modifiable factors were related to cognitive limitations in both groups and should be considered when developing approaches to improve cognitive limitations in the workplace.
Calvio
Lisseth
L
Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Feuerstein
Michael
M
Hansen
Jennifer
J
Luff
Gina M
GM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004651:Employment; D056344:Executive Function; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult