title: Advice about Work-Related Issues to Peers and Employers from Head and Neck Cancer Survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this exploratory and descriptive study is to contribute to the sparse return-to-work literature on head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors. Interview participants were asked to reflect upon their work-related experience with cancer by answering two specific questions: (1) What advice would you give someone who has been newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer? (2) What advice would you give to employers of these people?
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were gathered through 10 individual semi-structured in-depth interviews with HNC clinic patients at a regional cancer center's head and neck clinic in Ontario, Canada. A constant comparative method of theme development was used. Codes identified in and derived from the data were discussed by research team members until consensus was reached. Codes with similar characteristics were grouped together and used to develop overarching themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Work-related advice for peers focused on personal self-care and interactions within workplaces. Work-related advice to employers focused on demonstrating basic human values as well as the importance of communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results suggest HNC clinic patients should be proactive with employers and help to set reasonable expectations and provide a realistic plan for work to be successfully completed. HNC clinic patients should develop communication skills to effectively disclose their cancer and treatment to employers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this exploratory study, HNC clinic patients' advice was solution-focused underscoring the importance of self-care and pro-active communication and planning with employers. Employers were advised to demonstrate core human values throughout all phases of the work disability episode beginning at diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Employment and Workplace Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, United States of America.|Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Carolyn S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dewa
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Employment and Workplace Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trojanowski
authors.affiliation: Coronel Institute of Occupational Health Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sietske J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tamminga
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jolie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ringash
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Maurene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McQuestion
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hoch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D009864:Ontario; D010379:Peer Group; D062707:Return to Work; D012648:Self Care; D018582:Sick Leave; D017741:Survivors; D055815:Young Adult