Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32321481›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2020

The changing relationship between health burden and work disability of Australian cancer survivors, 2003-2017: evidence from a longitudinal survey.

Rashidul Alam Mahumud, Khorshed Alam, Jeff Dunn, Jeff Gow

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Prognostic factors for return to work in breast cancer survivors.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Rashidul Alam MahumudHealth Economics and Policy Research, Centre for Health Research, Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensla, nd-4350, Australia. rashed.mahumud@usq.edu.au.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9788-1868
Khorshed AlamHealth Economics and Policy Research, Centre for Health Research, Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensla, nd-4350, Australia.
Jeff DunnHealth Economics and Policy Research, Centre for Health Research, Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensla, nd-4350, Australia.
Jeff GowHealth Economics and Policy Research, Centre for Health Research, Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensla, nd-4350, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the cancer health burden and themagnitude of work disability on cancer survivors in Australia from 2003 to 2017.

methodsA longitudinal prospective study design was undertaken among cancer patients using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. The longitudinal effect was captured using a fixed effect multinomial logistic regression model, which predicted changes in the relationship between cancer burden and work disability level controlling for socio-demographic, lifestyle and life conditions predictors.

resultsThe prevalence of long-term disability among cancer survivors was 50%, with 18% of patients experiencing extreme work disability. The magnitude of disability levels increased significantly with the level of health burden. Cancer survivors who faced a severe health burden were at 5.32 times significantly higher risk of having work disability compared with patients who had no health burden. Other potential predictors, such as older patients (relative risk ratio, RRR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.57, 5.87), those engaged in lower levels of physical activities (RRR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.07, 3.40), those who drink alcohol (RRR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.49), and poor socioeconomic status (RRR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.23) were all significantly associated with extreme work disability.

conclusionA substantial proportion of cancer survivors experienced work disability which was more pronounced with the magnitude of the cancer health burden. The different dimensions of disability might be prevented by introducing cancer survivor-specific evidence-based interventions, and incorporating comprehensive social support. Recommendations to improve public health policy aimed at reducing population-level unhealthy lifestyle behaviours include: using these findings to better outline the management of a sequelae course of treatment for cancer survivors; and identifying those who should undergo more intensive physical rehabilitation aimed at reducing their work disability level.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsEmploymentNeoplasmsPersons with DisabilitiesAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAustraliaCost of IllnessFemaleHumansIncomeLife StyleLogistic ModelsLongitudinal StudiesAustraliaCancer survivorsHealth burdenLongitudinal prospective studyWork disability

Identifiers

PMID32321481
PMCPMC7178584

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.