Women's perceptions of psychological and social vulnerability in relation to paid work after a breast cancer diagnosis: an integrative review.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Melnyk H
• Description:
  Background: Despite improved survival rates for breast cancer the illness exacts a heavy physical toll accompanied by significant disruptions to the psychological and social aspects of everyday life. Breast cancer survivors' (BCS) vulnerability to work-related difficulties as part of a constellation of overall psychosocial issues is emerging as an area of concern that should be addressed by practitioners and policymakers. Purpose: The aim of this integrative review was to identify ways in which paid work fits within the broader psychosocial domain of life for BCS. A better understanding of this schema would help ensure coordination of care to support BCS concerns and shifts in priorities along the survivorship continuum. Methods: A systematic review of PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycNET using key terms pertaining to breast cancer, cancer survivors / psychology, and employment was conducted yielding 1,070 citations. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were guided by the Mehnert (2013) cancer-work model and a broad definition of the concept of "vulnerability" in cancer survivorship described as "the fear that life's safeguards are no longer effective" (Kleban & Glaser, 2015). A final sample of 9 articles resulted after applying these criteria. Results: Several themes emerged in the analysis of the studies. These were that: 1) consequent to diagnosis/treatment BCS experience changes in identity/role functioning and challenges reintegrating into society which complicates their relationship to paid work, and 2) individual and interpersonal factors such as coping strategies and quality of social supports influence the degree to which employment hinders or facilitates recovery. Conclusions/Implications: The composite findings of the studies reflect that BCS perceive a myriad of vulnerabilities in relation to paid work. This is felt across survivorship phases and their lifespan. Therefore, a more pertinent clinician-patient dialogue might be one that moves beyond the traditional screenings for psychosocial distress by also assessing return to work fitness within the individual context of vulnerabilities relating to work life. Policies that promote a return to healthy family, community and work lives should be endowed. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Safety Women
• Keywords:
  Psychosocial factors; Women; Breast cancer; Worker health; Return to work; Cancer survivors
• ISSN:
  0029-6562
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  69
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065827
• Citation:
  Nurs Res 2020 May/Jun; 69(3):E101
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Mount Sinai School of Medicine
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Nursing Research. Eastern Nursing Research Society 2020 Conference: 32nd ENRS Annual Scientific Sessions, April 2, 2020, virtual event
• End Date:
  20270630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1af1e1b2fd80c1a9cb49e043f128ef3ba6b800e889f5e61fce22cef9db3a7d65ac6bbce911a32f6799d468d5795867915b46b04404a8fc4294a8be0902d4e02e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/248737/cdc_248737_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 90.51 KB ]