title: Negative Public Attitudes Towards Cancer Survivors Returning to Work: A Nationwide Survey in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early diagnosis and an improved survival rate have emerged as important issues for cancer survivors returning to work during the prime of their working life. This study investigated the attitudes of the general public towards cancer survivors returning to work in Korea and attempted to identify the factors influencing this negative attitude.
  
  
  METHODS
  A general public perception survey regarding cancer survivors returning to work, targeting 2,000 individuals between 40-70 years of age, was conducted as face-to-face home visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The public expressed a negative attitude towards cancer survivors returning to work, in terms of both perception and acceptance. Negative perception was higher among those in metropolitan areas compared with urban/rural areas (odds ratio [OR], 1.71), with monthly incomes < $2,000 compared with > $4,000 (OR, 1.54), and with patient care experience compared with those without (OR, 1.41). Negative acceptance was higher among those with monthly incomes < $2,000 compared with > $4,000 (OR, 1.71) and those with patient care experience compared with those without (OR, 1.54). The common factors between acceptance and perception that influenced negative attitude included area of residence, patient care experience, and monthly income.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified negative attitudes towards cancer survivors returning to work in South Korea and the factors influencing the reintegration of cancer survivors into society. It is necessary to promote community awareness and intervention activities to enable access to community, social, and individual units for the social reintegration of cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Heun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine/Graduate School of Health Science Business Convergence, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: So-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Kook
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine/Graduate School of Health Science Business Convergence, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Hyock
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D000073116:Cancer Survivors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005791:Patient Care; D011639:Public Opinion; D056910:Republic of Korea; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology*; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Attitude; Return to work; Social stigma; Survivors