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The prevalence and determinants of return to work in head and neck cancer survivors
Meredith Giuliani1,2,3, Janet Papadakos4,5, Michaela Broadhurst4
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Avenue 5th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9, Canada. Meredith.Giuliani@rmp.uhn.on.ca.
Purpose:
To determine the prevalence of and factors associated with the reduction or complete cessation of employment following treatment in head and neck cancer survivors.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted among head and neck cancer survivors visiting outpatient clinics at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre over a period of 18 months. Participants at any point along their survivorship course completed a survey that included demographic information, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Work Status Questionnaire, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT-HN), the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck (MDASI-HN), the Cancer Survivors' Unmet Needs Measure (CaSUN), and the EuroQol EQ-5D-5L utility scale.
Results:
Among 130 participants, 64 were employed at diagnosis. At the time of study, 31 (48%) had reduced their work, among whom, 21 (32.8%) had not returned to work at all following treatment. Pre-treatment employment status, cancer-related symptoms, quality of life, and health utility were associated with employment outcomes.
Conclusion:
A high proportion of head and neck cancer survivors reduced their work capacity and many did not return following cancer treatment. Further research is needed to understand the barriers to work return in these survivors and to explore strategies to encourage resumption of employment and employment satisfaction.
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