Researchers: Dana Yagil ¹, Miri Cohen ¹, Rafael Carel ¹

Background: Cancer survivors have difficulty re-entering the workplace, in general, as a result of the long-term side effects of the disease and its treatments. The perspective of multi-disciplinary professionals in the field of oncology on this subject has received very little research attention.

Objectives: 1. To define the factors that encourage and discourage professionals’ effective involvement in the return-to-work process of cancer survivors.
2. According to the findings, to develop a work model for professionals.

Method: 1. A qualitative study - in-depth interviews with 25 professionals;
2. The development of measures for the collection of quantitative data from a representative sample of 157 professionals;
3. The development of an intervention model for professionals and its examination by a panel of experts.

Findings: In the qualitative stage, the interviewees suggested several courses of action to encourage their involvement, such as an attitudinal change regarding role responsibility in relation to the subject of cancer survivors’ return-to-work process and receiving suitable training. In the quantitative stage based on the developed questionnaire, it was found that most professionals recognize the great importance of the return-to-work process of cancer survivors. Nevertheless, some believe that their patients’ return-to-work issues are not part of their professional responsibilities. According to professionals, many different factors can improve their involvement in the subject of patients’ return to work.

Conclusions: Based on the study findings, a multi-disciplinary intervention model was developed, which provides work recommendations and clear role responsibility definitions for professionals.

Recommendations: There is a clear need to raise professionals’ awareness about the importance of their active involvement in cancer survivors’ return to work, and in integrating the subject into the basic training and ongoing learning processes of professionals.

Research end date: 07/2019