Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33094415›Full record

ArticleJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2021

Working after cancer: in-depth perspectives from a setting with limited employment protection policies.

Yek-Ching Kong, Negina Rauf, Shridevi Subramaniam, Ros Suzanna Bustamam, Li-Ping Wong, Gwo-Fuang Ho, Hafizah Zaharah, Matin Mellor, Cheng-Har Yip, Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed
3.4field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
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

13 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Gender differences in employment disruption and return to work among cancer survivors in South Korea.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
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  12. Insights on emotional distress following cancer, sources of support and the unmet needs in a setting with limited supportive care services for people living with cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2021
    Article
  13. Survivorship, Version 1.2021.Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN · 2021
    Article
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

10 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Yek-Ching KongCentre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Negina RaufCentre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Shridevi SubramaniamCentre of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Ros Suzanna BustamamDepartment of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, 50586, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Li-Ping WongCentre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Gwo-Fuang HoDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hafizah ZaharahDepartment of Radiotherapy and Oncology, National Cancer Institute, 62250, Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Matin MellorSubang Jaya Medical Centre, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia.
Cheng-Har YipSubang Jaya Medical Centre, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia.
Nirmala Bhoo-PathyCentre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ovenjjay@gmail.com.
University of Malaya · MYSubang Jaya Medical Centre · MYErasmus MC · NLHospital Kuala Lumpur · MYNational Cancer Institute · MY

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeA considerable proportion of individuals who are diagnosed with cancer are at a working age. We aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges, and arising needs related to working after cancer in a setting with limited employment protection policies.

methodsFocus group discussions were conducted with cancer patients who were diagnosed at least 1 year prior to recruitment, and either had paid work, were self-employed, currently unemployed, or currently retired (N = 66).

resultsThree main themes were identified: (1) loss of income: While some participants were entitled for a 1-year cancer-specific sick leave, many other participants recounted having insufficient paid sick leave, forcing them to take prolonged unpaid leave to complete treatment; (2) dealing with side effects of cancer and its treatment: The need for workplace accommodations was highlighted including flexible working hours, lighter workloads, and dedicated rest areas to enable patients to cope better; (3) Discrimination and stigma at workplace: Some participants mentioned being passed over on a promotion, getting demoted, or being forced to resign once their cancer diagnosis was disclosed, highlighting an urgent need to destigmatize cancer in the workplace.

conclusionIn settings with limited employment protection policies, a cancer diagnosis severely impacts the working experiences of patients, leading to financial loss. Urgent interventions and legislative reforms are needed in these settings to address the unmet employment needs of cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: This study may facilitate planning of local solutions to fulfill the unmet employment needs following cancer, such as return-to-work navigation services.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsNeoplasmsEmploymentHumansPolicyReturn to WorkSick LeaveCancerEmploymentReturn to workSupportive careSurvivorship

Identifiers

PMID33094415
OpenAlexW3093944569

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.