title: Predictors of return to work in cancer survivors in the Royal Air Force.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Return to work (RTW) is beneficial for cancer survivors, employers and society. However, little is known about predictors of RTW in the military environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 194 Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel aged 18-58 who survived primary cancer treatment between 2001 and 2011 were followed up for 18 months. Information was obtained from occupational health and primary care records. Personal, occupational and clinical predictors of RTW were identified by Cox proportional hazards regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median sickness absence before RTW was 107 days. Six months after diagnosis 54 % of participants had RTW, and reached 80 % by 12 months. Time taken to RTW was predicted by age at diagnosis, rank, trade group, pre-diagnosis sickness absence, site of cancer, treatment modality, and prognosis. RTW at 18 months were predicted by higher rank (HR = 2.31; 95 % CI 1.46-3.65), and having melanoma (9.75; 4.97-19.13). Those receiving chemotherapy were significantly less likely to have RTW compared to other treatment modalities (0.18; 0.10-0.32).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rank, cancer diagnostic group, and treatment modality are the most important predictors of RTW in cancer survivors in the RAF. These predictors can be used to inform rehabilitation programmes and decisions on RTW.
authors.affiliation: Royal Air Force Centre of Aviation Medicine, Henlow, SG16 6DN, UK.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Kin Bong Hubert
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: McLoughlin
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sadhra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D062707:Return to Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult