Workforce participation of Australian women with breast cancer

• Published in: Psycho-oncology (Chichester, England) England), 2020-07, Vol.29 (7), p.1156-1164
• Main Authors: Lewis, Joanne, Mackenzie, Lynette, Black, Deborah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Australia; Australia - epidemiology; Breast cancer; breast neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Breast Neoplasms - rehabilitation; cancer; Cancer Survivors - psychology; Cancer Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Chronic Disease; Classes; Educational Status; employment; Employment - psychology; Employment - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health status; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Latent class analysis; Longitudinal Studies; Medical diagnosis; Middle Aged; Occupational status; oncology; Participation; rehabilitation; Remote areas; Return to work; Return to Work - statistics & numerical data; Risk Factors; Survivor; survivorship; Women; Women's Health; Women, Working - psychology; Womens health; Work status; Workforce
• ISSN: 1057-9249; 1099-1611
• DOI: 10.1002/pon.5392

Objective International research suggests that many women do not return to their previous work after breast cancer. This study aimed to identify workforce participation patterns for Australian women with breast cancer and compare these to healthy aged matched women. Methods Using the 1946–1951 birth cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, the work status of women was compared three years before and three years after their first reported breast cancer diagnosis. Latent class analysis was used to identify workforce participation patterns of women with breast cancer and healthy aged matched women. Multinomial logistic regression examined associations between work patterns and other risk factors. Results Pre and post breast cancer diagnosis work status data were available for 448 women with breast cancer between 1998 and 2010. Three years after diagnosis, 48% of full‐time workers returned to full‐time work but 52% returned to part time work or were not in paid work. Latent class analysis identified five classes. Women with breast cancer were more likely to be in the ‘mostly full‐time work’ and ‘mostly not in paid work’ classes compared to healthy women. Odds ratios showed that women in remote areas, partnered, with less education or with chronic health condition were more likely to be ‘not in paid work’. Conclusion Breast cancer has a negative impact on the workforce participation of Australian women. Women with breast cancer need support to return to work.