Gehrke Amanda K, Feuerstein Michael
Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Departments of Medical and Clinical Psychology, and Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2017 Sep;26(5). doi: 10.1111/ecc.12748. Epub 2017 Aug 15.
Cancer survivors with comorbidities have more work-related challenges than cancer survivors without these other health problems. This study evaluated how these cancer survivors with comorbidities are faring under a newly revised workplace discrimination policy, which better accounts for the episodic nature of chronic illnesses. The sample included 18-64 year olds with a history of cancer who filed allegations of workplace discrimination in 2009-2011 (N = 1.291) in the US. Multivariable logistic regressions were used. Cancer survivors with comorbidities were more likely to file discrimination claims related to the terms of their employment (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.04-1.80) than cancer survivors without comorbidities. Terms of employment-related claims were more likely to be ruled in favour of cancer survivors (versus employers), regardless of comorbidity status (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.06-1.96). Despite this policy reform, alleged discrimination related to terms of employment existed at higher rates in cancer survivors with concurrent health problems. If employment is a goal in this high-risk group, replication of findings in other countries, studies on potential mechanisms and development of innovative interventions in these higher risk cases are warranted. Efforts should be made to mitigate the impact of these comorbid health problems on work-related function.
患有合并症的癌症幸存者比没有这些其他健康问题的癌症幸存者面临更多与工作相关的挑战。本研究评估了这些患有合并症的癌症幸存者在一项新修订的职场歧视政策下的情况，该政策更好地考虑了慢性病的发作性。样本包括2009年至2011年在美国提出职场歧视指控的18至64岁有癌症病史的人（N = 1291）。使用了多变量逻辑回归分析。与没有合并症的癌症幸存者相比，患有合并症的癌症幸存者更有可能提出与就业条款相关的歧视指控（比值比=1.37，95%置信区间=1.04-1.80）。无论合并症状况如何，与就业条款相关的指控更有可能被裁定有利于癌症幸存者（相对于雇主）（比值比=1.44，95%置信区间=1.06-1.96）。尽管有这项政策改革，但在有并发健康问题的癌症幸存者中，与就业条款相关的所谓歧视发生率更高。如果就业是这个高风险群体的一个目标，那么在其他国家重复这些研究结果、研究潜在机制以及针对这些高风险案例开发创新干预措施是有必要的。应该努力减轻这些合并健康问题对工作相关功能的影响。
