University Centre for Palliative Care, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
Psychooncology. 2020 Apr;29(4):781-787. doi: 10.1002/pon.5349. Epub 2020 Mar 2.
We aimed to explore the return to work (RTW) experience of individuals in remission from extremital sarcoma.
Using a qualitative survey design, we asked sarcoma survivors about their RTW experiences after treatment. Seven men and eight women (n = 15), 43 years old in average, participated. The majority had soft tissue sarcoma (n = 14) and no amputations (n = 14). We analysed data thematically through an inductive approach.
Participants' motivation to RTW and their experiences of this transition could be understood under the main theme of "searching for distraction and wanting to leave the disease behind," followed by "problems of the new normal." RTW was the next step after treatment; however, being back at the same workplace/institution was challenging due to the interference of the effects of the disease and treatments and peer perceptions. In other subthemes, we identified that RTW was facilitated by different "signs of readiness," as well as by "motivating factors and the meaning of having an occupation."
Readiness to RTW while primarily an autonomous decision can also be guided by third parties, including treating physicians. RTW can be challenging, since changes in performance as well as comments from peers become a constant reminder of the status prior to the illness. Given that RTW helps distract from the disease, these reminders can be confronting and highlight the role of health professionals and employers in preparing survivors and peers to facilitate the RTW.
我们旨在探索四肢肉瘤缓解者的重返工作（RTW）经历。
我们采用定性调查设计，询问肉瘤幸存者在治疗后的 RTW 经历。有 7 名男性和 8 名女性（n=15），平均年龄为 43 岁，参与了研究。大多数人患有软组织肉瘤（n=14）且没有截肢（n=14）。我们通过归纳法对数据进行主题分析。
参与者重返工作的动机及其对这一过渡的体验可以理解为“寻找消遣并希望摆脱疾病”这一主题下，其次是“新的常态问题”。RTW 是治疗后的下一步；然而，由于疾病和治疗的影响以及同伴的看法，回到同一工作场所/机构是具有挑战性的。在其他子主题中，我们发现 RTW 可以通过不同的“准备迹象”以及“激励因素和职业的意义”来促进。
虽然重返工作主要是一个自主决策，但也可以由第三方（包括治疗医生）指导。重返工作可能具有挑战性，因为绩效的变化以及同事的评论会不断提醒人们疾病前的状态。鉴于重返工作可以分散对疾病的注意力，这些提醒可能会令人感到困扰，并突出健康专业人员和雇主在为幸存者和同伴做好准备以促进重返工作方面的作用。
