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Prognostic factors of work disability in sick-listed cancer survivors

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Abstract

Purpose

Sick-listed cancer survivors may face lasting side-effects, even after a successful completion of treatment. As a consequence, they are at risk of work disability, which may lead to job loss. Knowledge of prognostic factors of work disability may support cancer survivors in their trajectory of vocational rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors of work disability in sick-listed cancer survivors.

Methods

From the first day of sick leave, a cohort of 131 cancer survivors was followed for 24 months. Included participants were aged between 20 and 63 years. Data were collected, using questionnaires, at 10 months after reporting sick. The level of work disability, i.e., entitlement for disability compensation, was assessed by an insurance physician and a labour expert at 24 months. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

In the univariate analysis, 14 variables were found to be associated with the level of work disability at 24 months. These factors were related to socio-demographics, health characteristics, work-related characteristics, and return to work (RTW) expectations. Multiple logistic regression showed that at 10-month sick leave, perception of health care providers on cancer survivors’ work ability and experienced influence on RTW, both reported by workers, were significantly associated with the level of work disability at 24 months.

Conclusion

It seems in the interest of cancer survivors to take an active role in planning their RTW trajectory and to discuss RTW with their health care providers.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

The potential role healthcare providers may play in counselling cancer survivors on RTW must not be underestimated. Cancer survivors may benefit in having control on their RTW trajectory.

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Conflicts of interest and source of funding

PvM is employed by the Dutch Social Security Agency. The study was funded by the Research Center for Insurance Medicine. For the remaining authors, no conflicts of interest were declared.

Ethical standards

The authors declare the project to be exempt from review by a medical research ethics committee in accordance with the local regulatory guidelines and standards for human subjects protection in the Netherlands (Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act [WMO], 2005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute/VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Peter van Muijen, Saskia F. A. Duijts, Allard J. van der Beek & Johannes R. Anema

  2. Dutch Social Security Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Peter van Muijen

  3. Research Center for Insurance Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Peter van Muijen, Saskia F. A. Duijts, Allard J. van der Beek & Johannes R. Anema

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  1. Peter van Muijen
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  2. Saskia F. A. Duijts
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Correspondence to Peter van Muijen.

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van Muijen, P., Duijts, S.F.A., van der Beek, A.J. et al. Prognostic factors of work disability in sick-listed cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv 7, 582–591 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-013-0297-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-013-0297-3

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