• Occupational medicine · May 2019

    Qualitative study of return to work following breast cancer treatment.

    • K Zomkowski, B Cruz de Souza, G M Moreira, C Volkmer, G J Da Silva Honório, G Moraes Santos, and F Flores Sperandio.
    • Physical Therapy Department, College of Health and Sport Science-CEFID, Santa Catarina State University-UDESC, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
    • Occup Med (Lond). 2019 May 25; 69 (3): 189-194.

    BackgroundAfter 5 years' sick leave in Brazil, employees must retire due to disability. The duration from breast cancer surgery to the end of treatment should be ~9 months. However, diagnosis alone can take 6 months. Surveys administered soon after returning to work have highlighted problems regarding the slow speed of the treatment process and lack of protective legislation.AimsTo assess the barriers and facilitators experienced and the coping strategies adopted by Brazilian women 30 days after return to work following breast cancer treatment.MethodsA qualitative study of 12 women treated for breast cancer. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and independently analysed by two researchers using a standardized method of analysis.ResultsWomen took an average of 583 days to return to work following breast cancer treatment. The return-to-work experience was considered good, with the physical barriers being fatigue and problems with the arms, and the work environmental barriers being related to discrimination from employers and overprotection from colleagues. Facilitators included social and emotional support given by colleagues/relatives/employers and jobs requiring more cognitive effort than physical exertion. Coping strategies were related to job role adjustments and reduction in tasks and working hours.ConclusionsResults were similar to those reported by previous studies, with the exception of the facilitators. Cognitive effort is commonly considered a barrier. However, the present study had an unusually long duration before return to work, possibly reducing the acute effects of chemotherapy on cognition.© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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