In:
Head & Neck, Wiley, Vol. 39, No. 5 ( 2017-05), p. 893-899
Abstract:
The rates and factors associated with the return to work of head and neck cancer survivors from low‐ and middle‐income countries, such as India, are largely unknown. Methods We conducted a preliminary cross‐sectional survey of 250 consecutive eligible head and neck cancer survivors (age 〈 60; ≥6 months posttreatment) to identify return to work rates and sociodemographic, clinical, and quality of life (QOL; European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Core 30‐questions [EORTC‐QLQ‐C30] and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Core 30 Head and Neck 35‐questions [EORTC‐QLQ–H & N35]) correlates. Results In our cohort, 92.4% of the patients were employed pretreatment, 65.6% and 81.2% returned to work at 6 months posttreatment and by the time of the survey (median follow‐up 19 months), respectively. Family structure ( 〈 2 male children, p = .008; eldest child age 〈 20 years, p = .04), a higher level of education (vocational or professional training, p = .013) and female sex ( p = .001) were associated with higher return to work. Head and neck cancer survivors who returned to work had better global quality of life (QOL; p = .014) and less coughing ( p = .001) but more problems related to sticky saliva ( p = .004). Conclusion Further studies are needed to address the large unmet needs regarding identification and amelioration of barriers to return to work for head and neck cancer survivors in low‐ and middle‐income countries, such as India. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 893–899, 2017
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1043-3074
,
1097-0347
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2017
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2001440-5
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