Predictors of Work-Related Disability During Early Phases of Breast Cancer Treatment.

Abstract

This study examined the magnitude of work-related disability in postmenopausal women with breast cancer compared with healthy controls. It also examined demographic and clinical correlates of work-related disability in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. This was an exploratory secondary analysis of longitudinal study. The Work Limitations Questionnaire measured the percentage of at-work productivity loss. The analysis revealed a significant group-by-time interaction effect (F1,40 = 4.705, P = 0.036, partial η = .105) on work-related disability. Participants with breast cancer (mean = 2.364, SE = 0.374) had significantly higher percentage of at-work productivity loss compared with the healthy control group (mean = 1.263, SE = 0.392). At baseline, cognitive-emotional symptoms were moderately to strongly associated with work-related disability. At 6 months, physical symptoms were moderately associated with work-related disability. Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer are likely to experience higher rates of work-related disability compared with health counterparts. Health care providers should provide intervention to parallel the shift in symptoms that lead to higher work-related disability and job cessation.