Anxiety and Return to Work in Cancer Patients Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: Many cancer patients contract cancer and are diagnosed with it while they are working. However, only one-third of patients return to work. The issue of working is an economic problem and is directly connected to quality of life (QOL)in a working population. This study aimed to clarify the differences anxiety among breast cancer patients receiving outpatients chemotherapy according to their employment status.Method: Twenty-eight breast cancer patients being treated as chemotherapy outpatients were recruited. A questionnaire was used to survey the attributes,employment status,and level of anxiety in these patients based on the Cancer-chemotherapy Concerns Rating Scale(CCRS). Date from three groups(an employed group,an intermittent employment group,and a not employed group) were analyzed by multiple comparisons tests.Statistical comparison of each CCRS subscale was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test to analyze differences in scores for each employment status.Results: Patients' mean age was 55.19±9.9 years.According to the CCRS findings, the response rate for the following three parameters was the difference between three groups: 'I always think my disease (p<.007:employed vs not employed,p=.005) 'and' I can't work (housework/schoolwork) (p<.049:employed vs intermitted, p=.045)',sub-item 'own existence (p<.024:employed vs not employed, p=.024)'.Conclusion: The study revealed the characteristic of breast cancer patients and their anxiety according to their employment status.Being able to continue work is considered to enhance the social health of these patients.Predicting anxiety that was strongly experienced by employed patients and collecting information will help acquiring perspective in early nursing intervention.

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Author Information
Tamura Saori, Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, Japan
Sachiko Mitsuki, Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, Japan
Ryuya Yamanaka, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Koichi Sakaguchi, University Hospital Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan

• Category: ACP2017, Poster Presentation
• Tag: General Psychology,

Posted by James Alexander Gordon

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