Abstract
Objective
Healthcare professionals play a significant role in cancer survivors' decisions regarding return to work. While there is ample research about cancer survivors' views on return to work, little is known about the views of the professionals who accompany them from diagnosis to recovery. The study explores professionals' perceptions of cancer survivors in the return to work context, as well as their views about their own role in the process.
Methods
In-depth interviews (N=26) with professionals specializing in physical or mental health working with working-age cancer survivors: occupational physicians, oncologists, oncology nurses, social workers and psychologists specializing in oncology.
Results
An analysis of the interviews revealed two prominent perceptual dimensions among professionals: the cancer survivor's motivation to return to work and understanding illness-related implications upon returning to work. The two dimensions imply the following four groups of cancer survivors in the RTW context, as viewed by health professionals: the "realist"; the "enthusiast"; the "switcher"; and the "worrier". The results also indicate that social workers and psychologists view their role in terms of jointly discussing options and implications with the cancer survivor, while physicians and nurses view their role more in terms of providing information and suggestions.
Conclusions
The training of professionals should increase awareness of the assumptions they make about cancer survivors in regard to RTW. Additionally, training might elaborate professionals' view of their role in the interaction with cancer survivors regarding return to work.
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