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Returning to work following curative chemotherapy: a qualitative study of return to work barriers and preferences for intervention

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to explore barriers to return to work (RTW) and preferences for intervention and support for cancer patients treated with curative intent from the perspectives of cancer survivors and oncology health professionals.

Methods

Participants attended a focus group (N = 24) or an individual interview (N = 14). A topic guide and a semi-structured recorded interview format were used to gather data, which were later transcribed and analysed for global themes and subthemes.

Results

With regard to barriers, the global theme ‘work capacity’ captured an array of barriers encompassing financial pressure, preparedness for work, lack of confidence as well as other key physical, practical and psychosocial barriers. Participants expressed a preference for RTW models that focus on objective and structured assessment whilst allowing for flexibility to address individual needs.

Conclusions

Cancer survivors perceive multiple barriers when attempting to RTW. These barriers were perceived to impact upon work capacity, where ‘capacity’ was defined broadly to include practical, physical and psychosocial concerns. RTW is an important concern for cancer survivors and structured RTW interventions should be incorporated into the care of cancer survivors.

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Conflict of interest

This study was funded by the South Australian Medical Research Institute, the Beat Cancer Project. There are no conflicts of interest to disclose. The authors have full control of all primary data and have agreed to allow the journal to review the data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology & Health Systems Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Level 1, 147 Wharf Street, Spring Hill, QLD, 4000, Australia

    Vikki Knott

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders Dr, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia

    Stephanie Zrim, Ganessan Kichenadasse, Shawgi Sukumaran, Christos Karapetis & Bogda Koczwara

  3. Department of Rheumatology, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    E. Michael Shanahan

  4. Division of Rehabilitation, Aged Care & Allied Health, Repatriation General Hospital, 216 Daws Rd, Daw Park, SA, 5041, Australia

    Peter Anastassiadis

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Sharon Lawn

Authors
  1. Vikki Knott
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  2. Stephanie Zrim
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  3. E. Michael Shanahan
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  4. Peter Anastassiadis
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  5. Sharon Lawn
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  6. Ganessan Kichenadasse
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  7. Shawgi Sukumaran
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  8. Christos Karapetis
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  9. Bogda Koczwara
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vikki Knott.

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Knott, V., Zrim, S., Shanahan, E.M. et al. Returning to work following curative chemotherapy: a qualitative study of return to work barriers and preferences for intervention. Support Care Cancer 22, 3263–3273 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2324-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2324-y

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