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Work Transitions in Breast Cancer Survivors and Effects on Quality of Life

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation volume 29, pages 336–349 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose Work transitions among breast cancer survivors remain an underexplored area. We aimed to examine prevalence and determinants of changes in work status, and the effect of these changes on quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Methods A cross-sectional study of 410 female breast cancer survivors randomly drawn from a larger study sample pool (n = 2644), members of “Leumit” healthcare fund, who were diagnosed with primary nonmetastatic invasive breast cancer in the years 2002–2012. The study questionnaire included questions on work characteristics and health-related quality-of-life and was completed by all women contacted. Work transition was defined as a downgrade (from full-time to part-time), termination, or retirement, and was contrasted to no change in work status (retention of full-time or part-time). Work transition was assessed at two intervals: between breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, and between breast cancer diagnosis and time of the survey. Results A total of 206 breast cancer survivors (50%) were employed prior to their diagnosis, of whom 12% stopped working, and 79% downgraded to part-time during treatment. At the time of survey (mean 8 ± 3 years post-diagnosis), 33% of those employed prior to their diagnosis stopped working or retired, 48% downgraded to part-time, and 19% had no change in their work situation. Work transition between diagnosis and time of the survey was significantly associated with poorer quality-of-life. In multivariable analyses, work transition between diagnosis and time of the survey was positively associated with being immigrant compared to native-born Israeli (odds ratio (OR) 4.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.91–11.37; P = .001), and inversely with education level of college or over compared to high school or less (OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.09–0.86; P = .026). Conclusions Breast cancer survivors with characteristics pointing at underprivileged social circumstances more often experienced changes in work status after surviving breast cancer, irrespective of diagnosis, comorbidity or treatment. Breast cancer patients with immigrant status and/or lower educational attainment need more support to be able to keep their job.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available to preserve the privacy of participants; but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

BCS:

Breast cancer survivors

CI:

Confidence interval

Dx:

Diagnosis

INCR:

Israel National Cancer Registry

LHS:

Leumit Health Services

OR:

Odds ratio

P :

P value

QOL:

Quality-of-life

SD:

Standard deviation

SER:

Standardized employment ratio

SF-36:

36-Item short-form health survey

WT:

Work transition

χ2 :

Chi square

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Acknowledgements

Appreciation is expressed to the PhD advisory committee and all breast cancer survivors who participated in this study. We are grateful to Dr. Natan Kahan for his assistance and support with data acquisition and study approval.

Funding

Funding of this study was in part provided by a grant from the Council for Higher Education (Grant No. 11658745) in collaboration with the Graduate Studies Authority at the University of Haifa (Grant No. 11658760).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    Rola Hamood, Hatem Hamood & Lital Keinan-Boker

  2. Leumit Health Services, Haharoshet 13, Karmiel, Israel

    Hatem Hamood

  3. Ministry of Health, Israel Center for Disease Control, Ramat Gan, Israel

    Lital Keinan-Boker

  4. Leumit Health Services, Netanya, Israel

    Ilya Merhasin

Authors
  1. Rola Hamood
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  2. Hatem Hamood
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  4. Lital Keinan-Boker
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Contributions

RH had full access to all of the data in the study, performed the statistical analysis, interpreted the data, and drafted the manuscript. HH participated in the study concept and design, helped in data acquisition, evaluated the manuscript, and acted as the corresponding author. IM was responsible for data acquisition, participated in the statistical analysis, and helped to evaluate and edit the manuscript. LKB had substantial contribution to the study concept, its formalization and development, interpreted the data, and assisted in the drafting and refinement of the manuscript. All authors take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis, have read and approved the final manuscript. This work has been done in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a PhD degree of RH (supervised by LKB) in the School of Public health, in the University of Haifa.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hatem Hamood.

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Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional review boards of LHS and University of Haifa and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Disclaimer

The results, conclusions, view and opinions contained herein are those of the authors and not to be construed as the official policy of Israel’s Ministry of Health, or of Leumit Health Organization.

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Hamood, R., Hamood, H., Merhasin, I. et al. Work Transitions in Breast Cancer Survivors and Effects on Quality of Life. J Occup Rehabil 29, 336–349 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-018-9789-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-018-9789-3

Keywords

  • Breast cancer
  • Work
  • Employment
  • Survivorship
  • Quality of life