The impact of cancer diagnosis on employment status in a working population

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the status of return to work and the influencing factors in patients with common cancers referring to three medical centers during the years 2020 to 2022. Material and Methods. In the present study (a retrospective cohort), all patients who visited three medical centers during the years 2020–2022 and were diagnosed with common cancers (non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, gastrointestinal cancers and sarcoma), were included in the study. Work ability index (WAI) was assessed based on selected questions from the WAI questionnaire. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess depression and anxiety, and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) was used to assess the level of fatigue. Then, the data obtained from individuals who returned to work were compared with those who did not return. Results. Out of 750 eligible patients, 135 individuals were enrolled in the study. 114 patients were male (84.4 %). The mean age of individuals was 50.2 ± 10.4 years. The most of individuals were diagnosed with gastric cancer (n=66, 48.9 %). After treatment, 36 (26.7 %) individuals returned to work, with the majority (24 individuals: 66.6 %) reporting a decrease in physical ability to do work. Sixty-six (73.3 %) patients did not return to work, with the most common reason being physical inability to work in 60 (66.6 %) individuals. Higher quality of life score was reported in individuals who returned to work. Conclusion. The rate of return to work was approximately 27 %. The return to work rate was highest among individuals with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and lowest among individuals with oesophageal cancer and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The most influential factors affecting the return to work include disease recurrence and quality of life.

Keywords

• cancer
• quality of life
• return to work