Return to work and cancer: the Australian experience

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psycho-oncology
• Workplace Psychology

Background:

• Returning to work offers benefits for cancer survivors.
• Barriers significantly impact the quality of return-to-work outcomes.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the return-to-work process for cancer survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Australian cancer survivors', managers', and employee assistance program (EAP) professionals' perspectives on the return-to-work process.
• To identify factors influencing the return-to-work experience for cancer survivors.
• To understand the facilitators and barriers in the return-to-work journey.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing focus groups and interviews.
• Involved cancer survivors (n=15), managers (n=12), and EAP professionals/psychologists (n=4).
• Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes across participant groups.

Main Results:

• Drivers such as maintaining normality and identity influence return-to-work outcomes.
• Workplace communication challenges negatively impact emotional and practical support.
• Return-to-work negotiation is complex, affected by consultation levels and process structure.
• Colleague and manager support are crucial for successful reintegration.

Conclusions:

• Managers often lack knowledge on how to appropriately support employees with cancer.
• The return-to-work process is intricate, influenced by attitudes, communication, and coping abilities.
• Workplace interventions are needed to optimize support for cancer survivors returning to work.