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Worksite adjustments and work ability among employed cancer survivors

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Abstract

Objectives

This study was conducted to determine how many cancer survivors (CSs) make worksite adjustments and what kinds of adjustments they make. Changes in work ability among employed CSs were explored, and clinical, sociodemographic, and work-related factors associated with the current total work ability were studied.

Methods

CSs of the ten most common invasive types of cancer for men and women in Norway completed a mailed questionnaire 15–39 months after being diagnosed with cancer. Included in the analyses were all participants who worked both at the time of diagnosis and at the time of the survey and who had not changed their labor force status since diagnosis (n = 563). The current total work ability was compared to the lifetime best (0–10 score).

Results

Twenty-six percent of the employed CSs had made adjustments at work, and the most common adjustment was changing the number of work hours per week. Despite the fact that 31% and 23% reported reduced physical and mental work abilities, respectively, more than 90% of the CSs reported that they coped well with their work demands. The mean total work ability score was high (8.6) among both men and women. Being self-employed and working part-time at the time of diagnosis showed significant negative correlations with total work ability, while a favorable psychosocial work environment showed a significant positive correlation. CSs with low work ability were more often in contact with the occupational health service and also made more worksite adjustments than others.

Conclusion

The prospects of future work life seem optimistic for Norwegian employed CSs who return to work relatively soon after primary treatment.

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Acknowledgements

This project was commissioned and financed by the Norwegian Cancer Society; however, this had no influence over the data collection or the statistical analyses presented in this study.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Vestfold University College, P.O. Box 2243, 3101, Tønsberg, Norway

    Steffen Torp

  2. Institute for Labour and Social Research, P.O. Box 2947, Tøyen, 0608, Oslo, Norway

    Roy A. Nielsen

  3. Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, P.O. Box 4953, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway

    Sævar B. Gudbergsson

  4. National Resource Center for Late Effects, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet and University of Oslo, P.O. Box 4953, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway

    Alv A. Dahl

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  1. Steffen Torp
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  2. Roy A. Nielsen
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  3. Sævar B. Gudbergsson
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  4. Alv A. Dahl
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Correspondence to Steffen Torp.

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Torp, S., Nielsen, R.A., Gudbergsson, S.B. et al. Worksite adjustments and work ability among employed cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer 20, 2149–2156 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1325-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1325-3

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