Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34008147›Full record

ArticleJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2022

Workforce participation in relation to cancer diagnosis, type and stage: Australian population-based study of 163,556 middle-aged people.

Joanne Thandrayen, Grace Joshy, John Stubbs, Louise Bailey, Phyllis Butow, Bogda Koczwara, Rebekah Laidsaar-Powell, Nicole M Rankin, Katie Beckwith, Kay Soga and 4 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 2 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

8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Guideline
  2. Prognostic factors for return to work in breast cancer survivors.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
    Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Observational
  6. Article
  7. Work: saviour or struggle? A qualitative study examining employment and finances in colorectal cancer survivors living with advanced cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2022
    Article
  8. 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

14 authors.

Joanne ThandrayenNational Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Joanne.Thandrayen@anu.edu.au.
Grace JoshyNational Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
John StubbsCanSpeak, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Louise BaileyPrimary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group Community Advisory Group, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Phyllis ButowThe University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Bogda KoczwaraFlinders University and Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Rebekah Laidsaar-PowellThe University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Nicole M RankinThe University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Katie BeckwithNational Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Kay SogaNational Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Amelia YazidjoglouNational Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Muhammad Shahdaat Bin SayeedNational Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Karen CanfellThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Emily BanksNational Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council 1139539
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo quantify the relationship of cancer diagnosis to workforce participation in Australia, according to cancer type, clinical features and personal characteristics.

methodsQuestionnaire data (2006-2009) from participants aged 45-64 years (n=163,556) from the population-based 45 and Up Study (n=267,153) in New South Wales, Australia, were linked to cancer registrations to ascertain cancer diagnoses up to enrolment. Modified Poisson regression estimated age- and sex-adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) for non-participation in the paid workforce-in participants with cancer (n=8,333) versus without (n=155,223), for 13 cancer types.

resultsOverall, 42% of cancer survivors and 29% of people without cancer were out of the workforce (PR=1.18; 95%CI=1.15-1.21). Workforce non-participation varied substantively by cancer type, being greatest for multiple myeloma (1.83; 1.53-2.18), oesophageal (1.70; 1.13-2.58) and lung cancer (1.68; 1.45-1.93) and moderate for colorectal (1.23; 1.15-1.33), breast (1.11; 1.06-1.16) and prostate cancer (1.06; 0.99-1.13). Long-term survivors, 5 or more years post-diagnosis, had 12% (7-16%) greater non-participation than people without cancer, and non-participation was greater with recent diagnosis, treatment or advanced stage. Physical disability contributed substantively to reduced workforce participation, regardless of cancer diagnosis.

conclusionsCancer survivors aged 45-64 continue to participate in the workforce. However, participation is lower than in people without cancer, varying by cancer type, and is reduced particularly around the time of diagnosis and treatment and with advanced disease. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: While many cancer survivors continue with paid work, participation is reduced. Workforce retention support should be tailored to survivor preferences, cancer type and cancer journey stage.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsProstatic NeoplasmsAustraliaHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesWorkforceCancer diagnosisCancer typeClinical characteristicsCohort studiesWorkforce participation

Identifiers

PMID34008147
PMCPMC8964624

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.