Return to work experience among military officers with cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study was done to describe the return to work experience of military officers with cancer.


METHODS
Individual in-depth interviews with 15 participants were conducted between September 2013 and April 2014. Participants were interviewed 1~4 times; interviews continued until the data became saturated. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory.


RESULTS
The core category emerged as "living a new life after enduring difficulties". The return to work process consisted of four sequential phases: chaos, positive thought formation, behavior practices, and reformation. Action/interaction strategies used by military officers with cancer to resolve enduring difficulties were controlling emotions, accepting reality, prioritizing health, making efforts to improve relationships, and looking for future jobs.


CONCLUSIONS
These results will promote understanding of military officers' return to work experience following cancer survival, and will be helpful in developing more effective nursing interventions through enhanced perspectives and insights of practitioners.
Department of Nursing, Shinsung University, Dangjin, Korea.
Mira
M
Son
Department of Nursing, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. ljseop@hangyang.ac.kr.
Jeong Seop
JS
Lee
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D062707:Return to Work; D012944:Social Support
Cancer; Qualitative research; Return to work