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Open Access 01-12-2019 | Breast Cancer | Research article

Experiences of positive encounters with healthcare professionals among women on long-term sickness absence due to breast cancer or due to other diagnoses: a nationwide survey

Authors: M. Söderman, A. Wennman-Larsen, K. Alexanderson, E. Friberg

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Background

Experiences of encounters with professionals have been shown to influence return to work (RTW) among sickness absentees in general. The aim was to gain knowledge on experiences of encounters with healthcare professionals and the ability to RTW among women on long-term sickness absence (SA) due to breast cancer (BC) compared to among women on long-term SA due to other diagnoses.

Methods

Analyses of questionnaire data about experiences of encounters with healthcare professionals among 6197 women aged 19–65 years and on a SA spell lasting 4–8 months. Of those, 187 were on SA due to BC. Descriptive statistics and adjusted (for age, birth country, educational level, depressive symptoms) logistic regression analyses with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were conducted.

Results

About 95% in both groups of women stated that they had experienced positive encounters with healthcare, and a minority, about 20%, had experienced negative encounters. Four specific types of positive encounters had been experienced to a lesser extent by women with BC: “allowed me to take own responsibility” (odds ratio (OR) 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.8), “encouraged me to carry through my own solutions” (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.4–0.7), “made reasonably high demands” (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.9), and “sided with me/stood on my side” (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.8). Among the women with BC, 46% stated that positive encounters promoted their ability to RTW compared to 56% among the others. Conclusion: Most of the women had experienced positive encounters and about half stated that positive encounters promoted their ability to RTW, although a slightly smaller proportion of the women with BC stated that. This study emphasizes that not only medical treatment but also encounters may influence the ability to RTW, something that is of clinical importance.

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Title: Experiences of positive encounters with healthcare professionals among women on long-term sickness absence due to breast cancer or due to other diagnoses: a nationwide survey
Authors: M. Söderman
A. Wennman-Larsen
K. Alexanderson
E. Friberg
Publication date: 01-12-2019
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6666-8

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Experiences of positive encounters with healthcare professionals among women on long-term sickness absence due to breast cancer or due to other diagnoses: a nationwide survey

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

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