Health related quality of life and factors relevant to return to work in cancer survivors after hospital discharge: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the cross-sectional relationship between cancer survivors’ return-to-work (RTW) status and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) following cancer diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A questionnaire survey, which included three standardized HR-QOL instruments, was carried out among Japanese cancer survivors at their first follow-up appointment following hospital discharge. Participants were recruited by nurse investigators from 2016 to 2017 at their respective inpatient units. Statistical analyses were performed on the gathered data. Results: Analysis of 94 returned questionnaires showed that symptom-related interference, physical function, mental function, and health and functioning, which were indicators of HR-QOL, and the factor “work category” were significantly associated with RTW status although symptoms, subjective well-being, and the other social background factors showed no statistically significant relationship with RTW status. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that only the factor “work category,” which consisted of “physical” and “mental” work, had a significant effect on RTW status. Conclusions: RTW status was associated with work category, symptom-related interference, physical function, mental function, and health and functioning; however, only the factor “work category” had significant influence. This study suggests that helping cancer survivors return to work considering the work category they are engaging is important. At that time interventions that are focused on the individual health functioning including physical and mental functions in preference to social background factors may get to be valuable. © 2022, The Author(s).