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Factors associated with an adverse work outcome in breast cancer survivors 5–10 years after diagnosis: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Purpose

To identify which factors are associated with adverse work outcome 5–10 years after diagnosis.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, breast cancer survivors, treated between 2003 and 2008, completed a questionnaire 5–10 years after diagnosis. Adverse work outcome was defined as not having paid employment or working > 20% less compared to prediagnosis. Logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results

Of 906 participants, 326 (36%) had an adverse work outcome. In multivariable analyses, the probability of an adverse work outcome increased with age (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00–1.07), time since diagnosis (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.03–1.37), and was higher among women who stated that work had become less important (OR, 2.99; 95% CI, 1.94–4.62). Factors associated with a lower probability of an adverse work outcome were having sufficient financial resources (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08–0.66), higher total work ability (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.54–0.69), feeling supported at work (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33–0.80), and, prior to diagnosis, having more children to take care of (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.54–0.79), being able to adjust working hours (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.36–0.83) and not desiring to work less hours if that were to be financially feasible (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0–3.2).

Conclusions

Predominantly, work-related factors are associated with adverse work outcomes 5–10 years after diagnosis, whereas clinical factors are not. Our results need validation in prospective cohort studies, after which supportive interventions could be developed.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Work-related factors should be considered in future interventions to prevent adverse work outcome 5–10 years after diagnosis.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Dutch Pink Ribbon foundation (grant no. 2011.WO17.C102) and the Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Last authorship shared: Dr. Saskia Duijts and Dr. Michael Schaapveld have contributed equally to this paper.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amsterdam UMC, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Sietske J. Tamminga & Angela G. E. M. de Boer

  2. Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Pieter Coenen, Allard J. van der Beek & Saskia F. A. Duijts

  3. Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Carmen Paalman, Neil K. Aaronson, Flora E. van Leeuwen, Saskia F. A. Duijts & Michael Schaapveld

  4. Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Carmen Paalman & Michael Schaapveld

  5. Department of Surgical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Hester S. A. Oldenburg

  6. Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, FA 21, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Saskia F. A. Duijts

Authors
  1. Sietske J. Tamminga
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  2. Pieter Coenen
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  3. Carmen Paalman
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  4. Angela G. E. M. de Boer
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  5. Neil K. Aaronson
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  6. Hester S. A. Oldenburg
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  7. Flora E. van Leeuwen
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  8. Allard J. van der Beek
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  9. Saskia F. A. Duijts
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  10. Michael Schaapveld
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Contributions

MS, NA, FvL, HO, AdB were responsible for the study concept and design and obtained funding.

PC analysed the data, which was checked by ST.

All authors interpreted the data.

ST, PC and SD drafted the manuscript, which was critically revised by all authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Schaapveld.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Tamminga, S.J., Coenen, P., Paalman, C. et al. Factors associated with an adverse work outcome in breast cancer survivors 5–10 years after diagnosis: a cross-sectional study. J Cancer Surviv 13, 108–116 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-018-0731-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-018-0731-7

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