Abstract 402P
Background
Cancer survivors have been reported to face challenges as they return to work after completing antineoplastic treatment. In order to understand the burden of return-to-work challenges among cancer survivors in Singapore, we aim to describe the work-related outcomes, including employment rates, absenteeism and presenteeism, among local cancer survivors.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the National Cancer Centre Singapore in 2018. Breast cancer, colorectal cancer and lymphoma survivors who were in disease remission and have completed treatment for at least 6 months were recruited. Employment history and absenteeism data in the past 6 months were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Presenteeism was self-reported using the Work Limitations Questionnaire.
Results
A total of 501 patients were recruited. Most participants were Chinese (79.6%), followed by Malay (11.8%), Indian (4.6%) and other ethnicities (4.0%). Over half were breast cancer survivors (69.5%), followed by colorectal cancer (15.5%) and lymphoma (15.0%) survivors. The median age of the participants was 55.7 years (IQR: 50.1 to 60.5 years) while the median time after primary treatment completion was 3.7 years (IQR: 1.9 to 6.1 years). The majority of cancer survivors were employed with most participants reporting working full-time (47.5%), followed by part-time workers (10.2%) and self-employed individuals (5.8%). Out of the survivors who did not have paid employment, a substantial proportion (24.3%) were unemployed due to health-related reasons. Among employed participants, 56.9% reported taking time off work due to ill health or to see a physician in the past 6 months. The median absenteeism rate reported among working survivors was 0.8% of working time (range: 0 to 73.1%) while the median presenteeism or productivity loss at work due to health-related problems was reported to be 1.2% (range: 0 to 20.3%).
Conclusions
A significant proportion of cancer survivors in Singapore require time off from work or leave employment due to health-related issues. Further studies should be conducted to identify survivors who are at high risk for return-to-work challenges and should be offered occupational rehabilitation.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Singapore Cancer Society.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
97P - The role of adjuvant chemotherapy according to the status of surgical margin in rectal cancer
Presenter: Jong Hoon Lee
Session: Poster display session
Resources:
Abstract
98P - Influence of DPYD*9, DPYD*6 and GSTP1 ile105val genetic polymorphisms on capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) associated toxicities in colorectal cancer patients
Presenter: Ashok Varma
Session: Poster display session
Resources:
Abstract
99P - Patient-derived tumour model by new culture method leading to the precision medicine
Presenter: Norikatsu Miyoshi
Session: Poster display session
Resources:
Abstract
100P - Clinical impact and carcinogenic mechanism of NCAPG overexpression in colon cancer
Presenter: Kai-Yuan Lin
Session: Poster display session
Resources:
Abstract
101P - Combined cellular immunotherapy and chemotherapy improves clinical outcome and displays safety in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer
Presenter: Chang Wang
Session: Poster display session
Resources:
Abstract
102P - Clinical features of anorectal cancer in patients with Crohn’s disease: Japanese single center study
Presenter: Kazuhiro Watanabe
Session: Poster display session
Resources:
Abstract
103P - Contrast-enhanced CT-based textural parameters as potential prognostic factors of survival for colorectal cancer patients receiving targeted therapy
Presenter: Yanfei Yang
Session: Poster display session
Resources:
Abstract
104P - Prognostic significance of tumour location to the oncologic outcome of colon cancer
Presenter: Sare Hosseini
Session: Poster display session
Resources:
Abstract
105P - Detection and clinical significance of circulating tumour cells in patients with rectal cancer
Presenter: Shuohui Dong
Session: Poster display session
Resources:
Abstract
106P - The risk of malignization incidence in patients with polyps and polyposis of the colon and rectum
Presenter: Yakov Ten
Session: Poster display session
Resources:
Abstract