Long-term workforce participation patterns following head and neck cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Occupational Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Head and neck cancer (HNC) significantly impacts survivors' lives, extending beyond physical recovery to affect their professional and economic well-being.
• Understanding long-term workforce participation is crucial for comprehensive survivorship care and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the long-term workforce participation patterns of individuals diagnosed with head and neck cancer (HNC).
• To identify factors influencing employment status and working arrangements post-HNC diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to HNC survivors identified from the National Cancer Registry Ireland.
• Data on working arrangements before and after diagnosis were collected.
• Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyzed workforce participation at 0, 1, and 5 years post-diagnosis.

Main Results:

• 77% of employed HNC survivors took time off work, averaging 9 months of absence.
• 52% reduced working hours, with a mean reduction of 15 hours/week.
• Factors influencing participation included medical care eligibility, cancer subsite, self-employment status, private health insurance, and chemotherapy receipt; only medical insurance remained significant at 5 years.

Conclusions:

• Workforce participation post-HNC is multifaceted, influenced by cancer-related, treatment-related, and employment-related variables.
• Patients require information on potential HNC impacts on work.
• Clinicians, policymakers, and employers must recognize these long-term effects and influencing factors.