Returning to Work After Cancer Treatment: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study Guided by Transitions Theory

Area of Science:

• Oncology nursing
• Occupational health
• Psychosocial oncology

Background:

• Supports for returning to work after cancer treatment are often lacking or ineffective.
• Transitions Theory offers a framework to understand the return-to-work transition after cancer.
• No prior studies have empirically examined this transition using Transitions Theory.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the applicability of Transitions Theory concepts to the return-to-work experience of cancer survivors.
• To understand how and why Transitions Theory can explain this complex transition.

Main Methods:

• An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed.
• Breast or colorectal cancer survivors completed questionnaires based on Transitions Theory.
• Interviews were conducted with a subsample to elaborate on quantitative findings.

Main Results:

• Productivity loss was associated with higher anxiety and unmet relational needs.
• Participants reported an average productivity loss of 7.42%, indicating incomplete return-to-work mastery.
• Qualitative data provided explanations for the quantitative associations found.

Conclusions:

• Interventions should address psychological well-being and relational needs to facilitate return to work.
• Transitions Theory provides a valuable framework for developing effective support interventions for cancer survivors returning to work.