Affiliations: [a] Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, AziendaUnità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| [b] Epidemiology Unit, Azienda Unità SanitariaLocale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| [c] Medical Directorate, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| [d] Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, Università di Modena eReggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| [e] Scientific Directorate, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Stefania Costi, PhD, Physiotherapist, Viale Umberto I 50, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy. Tel.: +39 0522 522441; E-mail: stefania.costi@unimore.it. ORCID: 0000-0002-4645-0336.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Return to work (RTW) enhances the general well-being and social participation of cancer survivors (CSs). OBJECTIVE: To describe the predictive value of work-related factors on the RTW process of CSs. The work accommodations, the perceived workload, and the barriers and facilitations of RTW are also reported. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Province of Reggio Emilia from July 2016 to July 2017. CSs who were 20–59 years old, first diagnosed with cancer, and employed at diagnosis were recruited. RESULTS: The majority of CSs (140/266, 53%) returned to work without difficulties, 42% reported difficulties, and 5% did not RTW. CSs who were shift workers (sex and age-adjusted Relative Risk [adj-RR] 1.30; 95% CI 0.94 –1.78) and who worked at night (adj-RR 1.36 95% CI 0.99 –1.86), in the evening (adj-RR 1.23; 95% CI 0.95 –1.57) and on Sundays (adj-RR 1.15; 95% CI 0.81 –1.63) perceived more difficulties. Physically demanding work and a long commute seemed to negatively impact RTW. Accommodations in work tasks (37%) or schedule (26%) were implemented. Workload was not acceptable for 18% of CSs. The main barriers concerned energy and drive functions, whereas remunerative employment was the foremost facilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals should address work-related factors that might influence RTW with personalized interventions of vocational rehabilitation.
Keywords: Rehabilitation, epidemiology, international classification of functioning disability and health
