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Published in:

01-06-2016

Changes in importance of work and vocational satisfaction during the 2 years after breast cancer surgery and factors associated with this

Authors: Marie I. Nilsson, Fredrik Saboonchi, Kristina Alexanderson, Mariann Olsson, Agneta Wennman-Larsen, Lena-Marie Petersson

Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship | Issue 3/2016

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how women, during the 2 years following breast cancer surgery, rate importance of work and vocational satisfaction, and baseline factors associated with rating over time.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of 692 women aged 20–63 included about 4 weeks after a first breast cancer surgery. Register data on treatment and data from six repeated questionnaires during a 2-year follow-up (at baseline, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24 months) were used in two-way mixed repeated analysis of variance and mixed repeated measures analysis of covariance.

Results

The women rated importance of work (m = 3.74; sd 0.88) (maximum 5) and vocational satisfaction (m = 4.30; sd 1.38) (maximum 6) high during the 2 years. Women with planned chemotherapy rated lower vocational satisfaction and especially so at 4 months after inclusion (F 1, 498 = 8.20; p = 0.004). Higher age, better physical, and mental/social work ability at baseline influenced rating of vocational satisfaction. Supportive colleagues was an important covariate that significantly affected ratings of importance of work as well as vocational satisfaction, i.e., women with better support rated on average higher on these outcomes. The effect of chemotherapy disappeared after including the abovementioned baseline covariates.

Conclusions

Women diagnosed with breast cancer in the following 2 years rate importance of work and vocational satisfaction high, which are associated to lower work ability and social support.

Implications for cancer survivors

Work is a very important aspect in life also after a cancer diagnosis, which has to be acknowledged when discussing treatment and rehabilitation plans with women with breast cancer. Furthermore, workplace support needs to be assessed as this is an influential factor.

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Title: Changes in importance of work and vocational satisfaction during the 2 years after breast cancer surgery and factors associated with this
Authors: Marie I. Nilsson
Fredrik Saboonchi
Kristina Alexanderson
Mariann Olsson
Agneta Wennman-Larsen
Lena-Marie Petersson
Publication date: 01-06-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship / Issue 3/2016
Print ISSN: 1932-2259
Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-015-0502-7

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Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Implications for cancer survivors

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