Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany.
Clinic for Rehabilitation Katharinenhöhe gGmbH, Schönwald/Schwarzwald, Germany.
J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2021 Apr;10(2):226-233. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2020.0055. Epub 2020 Aug 3.
Although cancer often impacts work issues in patients, little is known about changes in the employment situation of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. We surveyed AYA cancer patients (18-39 years at diagnosis, diagnosis ≤4 years) using as set of validated self-report measures. By using multivariate and regression analyses, we analyzed employment status prediagnosis (in retrospect) and return to work (RTW) rate about 2 years postcancer diagnosis and related predictors. We compared work-related characteristics (occupational position, weekly working hours, and type of employment contract) at both time points. Cancer-related financial distress (European Organization for Research Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire [EORTC QLQ-C30]) was assessed. A total of 505 AYAs (mean age at diagnosis 29.7 years) completed the questionnaire. After an average of 2 years postcancer diagnosis, 83.4% among those being employed at the time of diagnosis ( = 355) had returned to work, 2.8% were on vocational training, 4.5% were unemployed, 4.2% were disabled due to reduced work capacity, and 5.1% were not employed for other reasons. For 158 of 505 AYAs (31.3%), employment status had changed since diagnosis. Significant changes of work-related characteristics were found for the weekly working hours ( = 35.8; standard deviation [SD] = 7.4; M = 34.7; SD = 8.2; = 0.004). Twenty-four percent of the RTW patients and 68% of patients not RTW reported cancer-related financial distress. Patients with comorbid diseases, having hematological cancer or sarcoma, were less likely to RTW. Most AYAs returned to work in the medium term, often by reducing weekly working hours. Since AYAs state significant cancer-related financial distress, even after RTW, it seems particularly relevant to provide financial support and occupational counseling.
尽管癌症经常影响患者的工作问题，但对于青少年和年轻成人（AYA）癌症幸存者的就业情况变化知之甚少。我们使用一套经过验证的自我报告措施调查了 AYA 癌症患者（诊断时 18-39 岁，诊断 ≤4 年）。通过使用多元和回归分析，我们分析了癌症诊断前（回顾性）和癌症诊断后约 2 年的重返工作岗位（RTW）率及其相关预测因素。我们比较了这两个时间点的与工作相关的特征（职业地位、每周工作小时数和就业合同类型）。评估了癌症相关的经济困境（欧洲癌症研究与治疗组织生活质量问卷 [EORTC QLQ-C30]）。共有 505 名 AYA 完成了问卷。在癌症诊断后平均 2 年，在诊断时就业的 355 名患者中，83.4%已经重返工作岗位，2.8%正在接受职业培训，4.5%失业，4.2%因工作能力下降而残疾，5.1%因其他原因未就业。在 505 名 AYA 中有 158 名（31.3%）自诊断以来就业状况发生了变化。每周工作小时数的工作相关特征发生了显著变化（ = 35.8；标准差 [SD] = 7.4；M = 34.7；SD = 8.2； = 0.004）。24%的 RTW 患者和 68%的非 RTW 患者报告存在癌症相关的经济困境。患有合并症、患有血液系统癌症或肉瘤的患者不太可能 RTW。大多数 AYA 在中期恢复工作，通常是通过减少每周工作小时数。由于 AYA 表示存在显著的癌症相关经济困境，即使在 RTW 后，提供财务支持和职业咨询似乎尤为重要。
