Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A study to examine the influence of health professionals’ advice and support on work capacity and sick leave after breast cancer surgery

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate how women, shortly after breast cancer surgery, experienced encounters with, and information from, healthcare professionals regarding work and sick leave and if these experiences were associated with self-reported work capacity and sick leave.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study based on questionnaire data from 605 women who had had breast cancer surgery, aged 20–63 years. Exclusion criteria were known distant metastases, pre surgical therapy, and/or previous breast cancer. Data on age, type of surgery, global health, and work environment were included as covariates in multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

Five percent of the women had not received any advice concerning work or sick leave. Women reporting receiving useful advice or support related to paid work had lower risk of reporting reduced physical or psychological/social work capacity due to the cancer or treatment (OR 0.46 (95 % CI 0.26–0.81) respective OR 0.45 (95 % CI 0.26–0.77)). There were no associations between having received useful advice or support concerning work and being on sick leave. Women encouraged to take sick leave had an OR of 2.17 (95 % CI 1.39–3.37) of being sickness absent. They also to a higher extent had reduced physical and psychological/social work capacity. Women who reported to have been encouraged to work were sickness absent to a lower extent (OR 0.64; 95 % CI 0.41–0.98) and reported higher physical work capacity.

Conclusions

Work and sick leave is being discussed during consultations with women with breast cancer and the advice given seems to be in line with the women’s subjective work capacity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jemal A, Bray F, Center MM et al (2011) Global cancer statistics. CA Cancer J Clin 61(2):69–90

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bröstcancer - Nationell rapport diagnosår 2010, 2012, Regionalt Onkologiskt centrum Stockholm - Gotland: Stockholm

  3. Cancer incidence in Sweden 2011 (in Swedish), 2012, The National Board of Health and Welfare: Stockholm

  4. Tryggvadottir L et al (2010) Trends in the survival of patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the Nordic countries 1964–2003 followed up to the end of 2006. Acta Oncol 49(5):624–31

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. National Diagnosis-Specific Guidelines for Sickness Absence with Breast Cancer (In Swedish). 2011 2015-11-04]; Available from: http://www.socialstyrelsen.se/riktlinjer/forsakringsmedicinsktbeslutsstod

  6. Skåner Y, Nilsson GH, Arrelöv B et al (2011) Use and usefulness of guidelines for sickness certification: results from a national survey of all general practitioners in Sweden. BMJ Open 1(2), e000303

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Social Insurance in Figures 2014, 2014: Stockholm

  8. Munir F, Burrows J, Yarker J et al (2010) Women’s perceptions of chemotherapy-induced cognitive side affects on work ability: a focus group study. J Clin Nurs 19(9–10):1362–1370

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Johnsson A, Fornander T, Rutqvist LE et al (2011) Work status and life changes in the first year after breast cancer diagnosis. Work 38(4):337–46

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Jahoda M, Kiesler CA (1981) Work, employment and unemployment. Values, theories and approaches in social research. Am Psychol 36(2):184–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hultman B, Hemlin S (2008) Self-rated quality of life among the young unemployed and the young in work in northern Sweden. Work 30(4):461–72

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ahs AM, Westerling R (2006a) Self-rated health in relation to employment status during periods of high and of low levels of unemployment. Eur J Pub Health 16(3):295–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ahs AM, Westerling R (2006b) Mortality in relation to employment status during different levels of unemployment. Scand J Public Health 34(2):159–67

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Petersson LM, Nilsson M, Alexanderson K et al (2013) How do women value work shortly after breast cancer surgery and are their valuations associated with being on sick leave? J Occup Rehabil 23(3):391–9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Amir Z, Neary D, Luker K (2008) Cancer survivors’ views of work 3 years post diagnosis: a UK perspective. Eur J Oncol Nurs 12:190–197

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Nilsson M, Olsson M, Wennman-Larsen A et al (2011) Return to work after breast cancer: patients’ experiences of encounters with different stakeholders. Eur J Oncol Nurs 15:267–274

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Nilsson M, Olsson M, Wennman-Larsen A et al (2013) Women’s reflections and actions regarding work after breast cancer surgery, and emotions involved in this—a focus group study. Psycho-Oncology 22(7):1639–44

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kennedy F, Haslam C, Munir F et al (2007) Returning to work following cancer: a qualitative exploratory study into the experience of returning to work following cancer. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 16(1):17–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Yarker J, Munir F, Bains M et al (2010) The role of communication and support in return to work following cancer-related absence. Psychooncology 19(10):1078–85

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Maunsell E, Brisson C, Dubois L et al (1999) Work problems after breast cancer: an exploratory qualitative study. Psychooncology 8(6):467–73

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Verbeek J, Spelten E, Kammeijer M et al (2003) Return to work of cancer survivors: a prospective cohort study into the quality of rehabilitation by occupational physicians. Occup Environ Med 60(5):352–7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Verbeek JH (2006) How can doctors help their patients to return to work? PLoS Med 3(3), e88

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Main DS, Nowels CT, Cavender TA et al (2005) A qualitative study of work and work return in cancer survivors. Psychooncology 14(11):992–1004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Pryce J, Munir F, Haslam C (2007) Cancer survivorship and work: symptoms, supervisor response, co-worker disclosure and work adjustment. J Occup Rehabil 17(1):83–92

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Tamminga SJ, De Boer AG, Verbeek JH et al (2012) Breast cancer survivors’ views of factors that influence the return-to-work process—a qualitative study. Scand J Work Environ Health 38(2):144–154

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Lynöe N, Wessel M, Olsson D et al (2011) Respectful encounters and return to work—empirical study of long-term sick-listed patients’ experiences of Swedish healthcare. BMJ Open. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000246

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Müssener U, Svensson T, Söderberg E et al (2008) Encouraging encounters: sick-listed persons’ experiences of interactions with rehabilitation professionals. Soc Work Health Care 46(2):71–87

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Svensson T, Mussener U, Alexanderson K (2006) Pride, empowerment, and return to work: on the significance of promoting positive social emotions among sickness absentees. Work 27(1):57–65

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Lynoe N, Wessel M, Olsson D et al (2013) Does feeling respected influence return to work? Cross-sectional study on sick-listed patients’ experiences of encounters with social insurance office staff. BMC Public Health 13(1):268

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Petersson LM, Wennman-Larsen A, Nilsson M et al (2011) Work situation and sickness absence in the initial period after breast cancer surgery. Acta Oncol 50(2):282–288

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Tuomi K, Ilmarinen J, Jahkola A et al (1998) Work Ability Index. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  32. de Zwart BC, Frings-Dresen MH, van Duivenbooden JC (2002) Test-retest reliability of the Work Ability Index questionnaire. Occup Med (Lond) 52(4):177–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Gudbergsson SB, Forss SD, Lindbohm ML et al (2009) Received and needed social support at the workplace in Norwegian and Finnish stage 1 breast cancer survivors: a study from the Nordic Study Group of Cancer and Work (NOCWO). Acta Oncol 48(1):67–75

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Taskila T, Martikainen R, Hietanen P et al (2007) Comparative study of work ability between cancer survivors and their referents. Eur J Cancer 43(5):914–20

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Nilsson MI, Petersson LM, Wennman-Larsen A et al (2013) Adjustment and social support at work early after breast cancer surgery and its associations with sickness absence. Psycho-Oncology 22(12):2755–62

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Ware J Jr, Kosinski M, Keller SD (1996) A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey: construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and validity. Med Care 34(3):220–33

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. StataCorp. (2011) Stata Statistical Software, StataCorp LP: College Station, USA

  38. Svensson T, Karlsson A, Alexanderson K et al (2003) Shame-inducing encounters. Negative emotional aspects of sickness-absentees’ interactions with rehabilitation professionals. J Occup Rehabil 13(3):183–95

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Wennman-Larsen A, Alexanderson K, Olsson M et al (2013a) Sickness absence in relation to breast and arm symptoms shortly after breast cancer surgery. Breast 22(5):767–72

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Wennman-Larsen A, Olsson M, Alexanderson K et al (2013b) Arm morbidity and sick leave among working women shortly after breast cancer surgery. Eur J Oncol Nurs 17(1):101–6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Islam T, Dahlui M, Majid HA et al (2014) Factors associated with return to work of breast cancer survivors: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 14(Suppl 3):S8

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Voss M, Stark S, Alfredsson L et al (2008) Comparisons of self-reported and register data on sickness absence among public employees in Sweden. Occup Environ Med 65(1):61–7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Balak F, Roelen C, Koopmans P et al (2008) Return to work after early-stage breast cancer: a cohort study into the effects of treatment and cancer-related symptoms. J Occup Rehabil 18(3):267–72

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Lauzier S, Maunsell E, Drolet M et al (2008) Wage losses in the year after breast cancer: extent and determinants among Canadian women. J Natl Cancer Inst 100(5):321–32

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Eaker S, Wiegertz A, Lambert PC et al (2011) Breast cancer, sickness absence, income and marital status. A study on life situation 1 year prior diagnosis compared to 3 and 5 years after diagnosis. PLoS ONE 6(3):e18040

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The study was financed through grants from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Cancer Society, Stockholm County Council, and the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Berzelius väg 3, plan 6, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden

    Tina Bondesson, Lena-Marie Petersson, Agneta Wennman-Larsen, Kristina Alexanderson, Linnea Kjeldgård & Marie I. Nilsson

  2. Department of Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden

    Tina Bondesson

  3. Division of Nursing, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Lena-Marie Petersson

  4. Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Agneta Wennman-Larsen

  5. Division of Social Work, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Marie I. Nilsson

  6. Division of Social Work, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    Marie I. Nilsson

Authors
  1. Tina Bondesson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lena-Marie Petersson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Agneta Wennman-Larsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kristina Alexanderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Linnea Kjeldgård
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Marie I. Nilsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marie I. Nilsson.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

The project was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board of Stockholm, Sweden. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bondesson, T., Petersson, LM., Wennman-Larsen, A. et al. A study to examine the influence of health professionals’ advice and support on work capacity and sick leave after breast cancer surgery. Support Care Cancer 24, 4141–4148 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3239-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3239-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation