Table 1.
Characteristics of eligible studies and prevalence of work retention among longer-term cancer survivors
| Author and year | Country, state | Study design and source of patients | Study population | Time-point(s) outcome assesseda | Outcome | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amir et al., 2007 [28] |
UK, England |
Cross-sectional survey Source: Population-based cancer registry |
N = 267; 48% breast, 14% colorectal, 9% prostate, 6% lung, 23% other; 73% female; mean 48 years | 3 years |
Working; Self-reported postal questionnaire |
82% working |
|
Blinder et al., 2012; [29] Blinder et al., 2013 [30] |
USA, California |
Prospective survey Source: breast cancer treatment |
N = 290 and 274; 100% breast cancer; 100% female; median 49 years | 3 and 5 years | Working/return to work; self-reported by telephone interview |
3 years: 56% working 5 years: 72% returned to work |
|
Bradley and Bednarek, 2002; [31] Bednarek and Bradley, 2005 [32] |
USA, Michigan |
Cross-sectional survey Source: Population-based cancer registry |
N = 141; 29% breast, 21% colorectal, 23% lung, 27% prostate; 47% female; mean 61 years | 5–7 years | Employed (full or part-time); self-reported in telephone interview | 67% employed |
| Dahl et al., 2015 [33] | Norway |
Prospective survey Source: 14 urology clinics |
N = 330; 100% prostate cancer; 100% male; age not reported | 3 years | Working (full or part-time); self-reported on postal questionnaire | 93% working |
| Hamood et al., 2018 [34] | Israel |
Cross-sectional survey Source: Health insurance fund |
N = 206; 100% breast cancer; 100% female; mean 49 years |
3–14 years (mean 8.5 years) |
Working (full or part-time); self-reported on questionnaire | 67% working |
| Jagsi et al., 2014 [35] | USA, California, Michigan |
Prospective survey Source: Population-based cancer registries |
N = 746; 100% breast cancer; 100% female; mean 50 years | 4 years | No longer working; self-reported on postal questionnaire | 32% no longer working |
| Jeon, 2016 [36] | Canada |
Prospective, linkage of cancer cases and non-cancer comparators Source: Administrative data |
N = 2597; 26% breast, 11% cervical, 9% colorectal, 8% prostate; 63% female; mean 48 years N = 82,183 non-cancer comparators; 63% female, mean 48 years |
3 years | Workingb from national statistics | 85% of survivors working vs 94% of non-cancer comparison group |
| Johnsson et al., 2007 [37] | Sweden |
Observational study, nested in prospective RCT Source: Five hospitals |
N = 222 and 204; 100% breast cancer; 100% female; mean 47 years | 2 and 3 years | Return to work; self-reported questionnaire |
2 years: 84% returned to work 3 years: 86% returned to work |
| Kiserud et al., 2016 [38] | Norway |
Cross-sectional survey Source: Four oncology departments |
N = 265; 100% lymphoma; 40% female; mean 42 years | 12 years | Employedc; self-reported by postal questionnaire | 56% employed |
| Landeiro et al., 2018 [39] | Brazil |
Prospective survey Source: single clinical center |
N = 111; 100% breast cancer; 100% female; age not reported | 2 years | Working (full-time or part-time); self-reported by telephone interview | 60% working |
|
Maunsell et al., 2004 [40]; Drolet et al., 2005a [41]; Drolet et al., 2005b [42] |
Canada, Quebec |
Cross-sectional survey of survivors and cancer-free controls recruited via provincial healthcare files Source: Population-based cancer registry |
N = 646; 100% breast cancer; 100% female; mean 47 years Controls: N = 890; 1000% female, mean 45 years |
3 years |
Unemployed; self-reported by telephone interview |
21% of survivors unemployed vs 15% of controls |
| Mols et al., 2009 [43] | Netherlands |
Cross-sectional survey Source: Population-based cancer registry |
N = 403; 25% prostate; 15% endometrial; 25% Hodgkin’s lymphoma; 35% non-Hodgkin’s; 40% female; mean 53 years |
8.5 years | Workingd; self-reported postal questionnaire | 66% working |
|
Paraponaris et al., 2010 [44]; Marino et al., 2013 [45] |
France |
Cross-sectional survey Source: National Health Insurance Fund |
N = 1424; 41% breast; 5% prostate; 12% other urogenital; 32% other; 65% female; mean 47 years | 2 years | Working; self-reported by telephone interview | 66% working |
| Pearce et al., 2014 [46] | Ireland |
Cross-sectional survey Source: Population-based cancer registry |
N = 264; 32% larynx, 23% pharynx, 45% other sites in head and neck; 29% female; mean 52 years | 2, 3, 4 and 5 years | Working; self-reported by postal questionnaire |
2 years: 64% working 3 years: 68% working 4 years: 68% working 5 years: 68% working |
| Sanchez et al., 2004 [47] | USA, California |
Cross-sectional survey Source: Two population-based cancer registries |
N = 200; 100% colorectal; 54% female; mean 49 years | 5 years | Employed; Self-reported by postal questionnaire | 71% employed |
|
Short et al., 2005 [48]; Farley Short et al., 2008 [49]; Moran et al., 2011 [50] |
USA, Pennsylvania and Maryland |
Cross-sectional interview with 1 year follow-up, and non-cancer comparator populations Source: Hospital tumor registries, and panel/labor market surveyse |
N = 1433 and 1511; 31% breast, 8% prostate, 7% colorectal, 54% other sites; 64% female; mean 49 years Non-cancer comparators: N = 4141 (aged 28–54) and 3903 (aged 55–65) |
2.5 years and 3.5 years | Return to work; self-reported by telephone interview |
2.5 years: 81%f returned to work 3.5 years: 84%f returned to work |
| Tevaarwerk et al., 2013 [51] | United States, Wisconsin |
Cross-sectional survey Source: 38 institutions |
N = 225; 75% breast, 14% colorectal, 4% prostate, 7% lung; 84% female; mean 48 years | > 2 years (on average 4 years) | Working (full or part-time); self -reported | 83% working |
|
Tison et al., 2016 [52]; Alleaume et al. 2018 [53] |
France |
Cross-sectional survey with comparators Source: Three sickness funds and labor market survey (comparators) |
2 years: N = 2055; various diagnoses; 59% female; mean 56 years; Non-cancer comparators: N = 2055; 52% female; mean 39 years 5 years: N = 969; 58% breast cancer, thyroid 10%, lung 7%; 82% female; 18–54 years at diagnosis |
2 years 5 years |
Employed; telephone survey or postal questionnaire (survivors) or face-to-face interview (comparators) |
2 years: salaried individuals: 79% survivors versus 94% controls 2 years: self-employed: 86% survivors versus 96% controls 5 years: 82% cancer survivors |
| Van den Brink et al., 2007 [54] | Netherlands |
Observational study nested within prospective RCT Source: 84 hospitals |
N = 238; 100% rectal; 51% female; mean 52 years |
2 years | Paid labor resumption; self-reported by questionnaire | 70% paid labor resumption (55% completely; 15% partially) |
| Vartanian et al., 2006 [55] | Brazil |
Cross-sectional survey Source: Single hospital |
N = 301; oral cavity 53%, oropharynx 18%, larynx 26%, hypopharynx 3%; 22% female; median 52 years |
> 2 years (on average 10 years) | Unable to workg; self-reported in face-to-face interview | 33% unable to work |
| Verdonck-de Leeuw et al. 2010 [56] | Netherlands |
Cross-sectional survey Source: Single hospital |
N = 53; oral cavity/oropharynx 37%, larynx 34%, nasopharynx 18%, other head and neck site 12%; female 36%; median 59 years |
> 2 years (on average 4 years) | Return to work; self-reported by postal questionnaire | 83% returned to work |
aAverage was calculated if only range was given in article
bInferred from non-zero earnings
cIncluding those on sick leave
dNon-cancer comparator population not included in initial paper. Analysis in subsequent papers was stratified by age and included comparators from different surveys
eProjected by life table analysis
fDid not stop working or retire
gLost job or retired