Return to work and its predictors among nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors in the early post-treatment period: A prospective, observational study.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate return to work (RTW) status and identify its predictors in the early post-treatment period among nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) survivors.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted. A convenience sample of 209 NPC survivors were recruited from a tertiary cancer center in Southern China between July 2021 and March 2022. The research instruments comprised the Readiness for Return to Work Scale, M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory - Head and Neck, Work Motivation Scale, and demographic, disease-related, and work-related questionnaire. Return to work status and current job characteristics were assessed via telephone interview three months after completing treatment. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictive factors.

Results: Approximately 31.1% of NPC survivors returned to work in the early post-treatment period. Logistic regression analysis showed that NPC survivors who were male, had one child, had higher family monthly income per capita, were in the stages of prepared for action-self-evaluation/prepared for action-behavior, and had stronger work motivation were more likely to return to work in the early post-treatment period.

Conclusions: The RTW is low among NPC survivors in the early post-treatment period. Factors predicting RTW are complex under Chinese culture context. Healthcare professionals should prioritize the early identification of survivors with low RTW intention and provide culturally sensitive interventions to enhance their work motivation and readiness. These efforts are crucial to supporting NPC survivors in achieving successful early RTW.