Return to Work in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Occupational Health
• Socioeconomics

Background:

• Return to work (RTW) is crucial for cancer survivors' quality of life and has economic implications.
• Investigating RTW rates in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients post-surgery is essential for supportive care strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the return to work rate among colorectal cancer patients after surgical treatment.
• To identify factors associated with return to work in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 57 colorectal cancer patients from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences oncology clinics were enrolled.
• Data collected included demographics, clinical factors, and a quality of working life questionnaire.
• Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software to assess correlations.

Main Results:

• A significant 77.2% of patients returned to work, with 47.4% working full-time.
• No significant association was found between RTW and age, gender, insurance, or job type.
• RTW showed significant positive correlations with quality of life scores (p=0.001), higher annual income (p<0.001), and shorter hospitalization (p=0.041).

Conclusions:

• Approximately 77% of colorectal cancer patients successfully returned to work.
• Shorter hospital stays, higher income, and a better quality of working life are key factors facilitating RTW.
• These findings highlight the importance of supportive interventions addressing these factors to enhance RTW for cancer survivors.