Working conditions associated with return to work 2 years after breast cancer: insights from a cohort study.

Abstract

Background: Work-related determinants of return to work (RTW) after breast cancer (BC) have been poorly studied.

Methods: We analysed data from 2095 patients with primary BC enrolled in the French multi-center prospective cohort CANTO between 2012 and 2018. We investigated the association between administrative, physical and psychosocial working conditions and RTW two years after diagnosis using Poisson regression with robust variance. All models were adjusted for age, education, having a partner or children, and clinical variables at diagnosis. Analyses stratified by education (up to/higher than high school) and by chemotherapy were conducted. Multiple imputations were performed.

Results: Having no weekly rest period of 48 consecutive hours (RR = 1.36 95% CI:1.09-1.81), strenuous work postures (RR = 1.48 95% CI:1.19-1.87) and shift work (RR = 1.40 95% CI:1.11-1.75) as well as low independence of decision making (RR = 1.33 95% CI:1.04-1.81) were associated with increased non-RTW. Not perceiving her own job as boring (RR = 0.61 95% CI:0.39-0.86) was associated with decreased non-RTW. Administrative working conditions did not impact RTW.

Conclusion: Working conditions emerged as potential levers to help women RTW. Our results underline the need for more targeted rehabilitation programs and personalized interventions to effectively help women in their RTW journey after BC.