Unemployment among cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemic

Year 2022, Volume: 4 Issue: 4, 417 - 420, 22.10.2022

Mehmet Erdem Alagüney , Fatih Yıldız

https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1168942

Abstract

Aim: The survival rate of cancer patients is increased which resulted in an increased number of cancer survivors in working life. Return to work of cancer patients resulted in improved health outcomes and quality of life. However, cancer survivors have a high risk of unemployment. The COVID-19 pandemic caused global economic distress and put a great burden on the healthcare system which affected the cancer survivors further. COVID-19 may be a concurrent risk along with cancer, as a barrier for return to work. We investigated the factors that are associated with unemployment among cancer survivors, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we aimed to detect risk factors for unemployment amongst cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to maintain the employment status of cancer survivors and prevent undesired individual and global economic and health outcomes.
Material and Method: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study. Control patients who applied to the Medical Oncology outpatient clinic were over 18 years old, diagnosed with cancer, completed adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment, the disease has not relapsed, and working before March 2020 were included in the study. The survey collection process for the study was carried out between July 2020 and November 2020.
Results: There were 146 participants (65 male (44,5%) and 81 female (%55,5)). 42 (28.8%) of the 146 participants stated that they quit their jobs during the pandemic. Being a government employee, having a good-high household income and a high degree of education was protective against losing their jobs.
Conclusion: It is very important to understand the causes of unemployment among cancer survivors and solve these issues in order to increase the well-being, quality of life, and survival of the patient, as well as improve the economic and social status of society.

Keywords

Unemployment, cancer, COVID-19, pandemic

References

• La Vecchia C, Rota M, Malvezzi M, Negri E. Potential for improvement in cancer management: reducing mortality in the European Union. Oncologist 2015; 20: 495-8.
• Tamminga SJ, de Boer AG, Verbeek JH, Frings-Dresen MH. Return-to-work interventions integrated into cancer care: a systematic review. Occup Environ Med 2010; 67: 639-48.
• Seifart U, Schmielau J. Return to Work of Cancer Survivors. Oncol Res Treat 2017; 40: 760-3.
• Chapman B, Swainston J, Grunfeld EA, Derakshan N. COVID-19 outbreak effects on job security and emotional functioning amongst women living with breast cancer. Front Psychol 2020; 11: 582014.
• Smith T, Stein KD, Mehta CC, et al. The rationale, design, and implementation of the American Cancer Society’s studies of cancer survivors. Cancer 2007; 109: 1-12.
• de Boer AG, Taskila T, Ojajarvi A, van Dijk FJ, Verbeek JH. Cancer survivors and unemployment: a meta-analysis and meta-regression. JAMA 2009; 301: 753-62.
• Mehnert A, de Boer A, Feuerstein M. Employment challenges for cancer survivors. Cancer 2013; 119 11: 2151-9.
• Tavan H, Azadi A, Veisani Y. Return to work in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Indian J Palliat Care 2019; 25: 147-52.
• Nieuwenhuijsen K, Bos-Ransdorp B, Uitterhoeve LL, Sprangers MA, Verbeek JH. Enhanced provider communication and patient education regarding return to work in cancer survivors following curative treatment: a pilot study. J Occup Rehabil 2006; 16: 647-57.
• Grasselli G, Pesenti A, Cecconi M. Critical care utilization for the COVID-19 outbreak in Lombardy, Italy: early experience and forecast during an emergency response. JAMA 2020; 323: 1545-6.
• Gosain R, Abdou Y, Singh A, Rana N, Puzanov I, Ernstoff MS. COVID-19 and cancer: a comprehensive review. Curr Oncol Rep 2020; 22: 53.
• Baddour K, Kudrick LD, Neopaney A, et al. Potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial toxicity in cancer survivors. Head Neck 2020; 42: 1332-8.
• Shim S, Kang D, Bae KR, et al. Association between cancer stigma and job loss among cancer survivors. Psychooncology 2021; 30: 1347-55.
• Thom B, Benedict C, Friedman DN, Watson SE, Zeitler MS, Chino F. Economic distress, financial toxicity, and medical cost-coping in young adult cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from an online sample. Cancer 2021; 127: 4481-91.
• Matthews TA, Chen L, Chen Z, et al. Negative employment changes during the COVID-19 pandemic and psychological distress: evidence from a nationally representative survey in the U.S. J Occup Environ Med 2021; 63: 931-7.
• Gordon LG, Merollini KMD, Lowe A, Chan RJ. A systematic review of financial toxicity among cancer survivors: we can’t pay the co-pay. Patient 2017; 10: 295-309.
• Taskila T, Lindbohm ML. Factors affecting cancer survivors’ employment and work ability. Acta Oncol 2007; 46: 446-51.
• Guven DC, Sahin TK, Aktepe OH, Yildirim HC, Aksoy S, Kilickap S. Perspectives, knowledge, and fears of cancer patients about COVID-19. Front Oncol 2020; 10: 1553.