| Objective:To investigate the readiness for return-to-work of patients with head and neck tumors,and analyze the factors that affect readiness for return-to-work of head and neck cancer patients,so as to provide a theoretical basis for formulating interventions measures aimed at improving the level of patients’readiness for return-to-work.Method:A total of 253 eligible head and neck tumor survivors who visited to the radiotherapy department of the First Hospital of China Medical University from May2019 to May 2022 were enrolled in a cross-sectional study by means of convenient sampling.The research instruments comprised self-designed general information questionnaire,Readiness for Return-To Work Scale(RRTW),General Self-efficacy Scale(GSES),Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale(MUIS)and Self-report Psycho-social Adjustment to Illness Scale(PAIS-SR).The data collected without errors were entered by two persons and statistically analyzed by SPSS26.0 software.The main analysis methods included descriptive statistical analysis,rank sum test,Spearman rank correlation analysis,ordered multiple logistic regression analysis and binary logistic regression analysis.The results were statistically significant with P<0.05.Results:1.Questionnaire collection:A total of 259 questionnaires were sent out and all were recovered.After verification,253 questionnaires were valid,with an effective response rate of 97.68%.2.Status of readiness for return-to-work of head and neck tumor patients:Among253 participants included in this study,147 did not return to work and 106 had returned to work,with a return rate of 41.9%.Among patients who did not return to work,the most were in the pre-contemplation stage,accounting for 38%,29.9%were in the contemplation stage,23.8%in the actions-evaluation stage,and the least were in the actions-behavior stage,only accounting for 8.2%.The level of readiness for return-to-work of patients who had returned to work was mainly in the active maintenance stage with 68(64.2%),and 38(35.8%)in the uncertain maintenance stage.3.Univariate analysis results showed that there were significant differences between groups in terms of age,children’s status,payment method of medical expenses,duration of disease,length of discharge,occupational nature and the current working status among the head and neck cancer patients who did not return to work(P<0.05);age,education level,children’s status,duration of disease,length of discharge,occupational nature and the time from completing treatment to returning to work had a significant difference(P<0.05)in the readiness for return-to-work among patients who had returned to work.4.Correlation analysis showed that the self-efficacy level of patients with head and neck cancer who did not return to work and had returned to work was positively correlated with the readiness to return to work(r_s>0,P<0.05);the score of disease uncertainty was negatively correlated with the readiness to return to work(r_s<0,P<0.05);the score of psychosocial adjustment was negatively correlated with the readiness to return to work(r_s<0,P<0.05).5.Children’s status,self-efficacy,unpredictability,occupational environment and family environment were the influencing factors for the readiness for return-to-work of patients with head and neck tumors who did not return to work;Education level,children’s status,self-efficacy,unpredictability and psychological status were the influencing factors for the readiness for return-to-work of patients who had returned to work.Conclusion:1.In this survey,the return rate of head and neck cancer patients was41.9%.The overall level of readiness for return-to-work is low.The patients who have not returned to work tended to be at low levels of the readiness for return-to-work,and mainly were in the pre-contemplation stage and contemplation stage.The patients who have returned to work tended to be at high levels of the readiness for return-to-work,and mainly were in the active maintenance stage.2.Children’s status,self-efficacy,unpredictability,occupational environment and family environment were the factors that affected the readiness for return-to-work of patients with head and neck cancer who did not return to work.Medical personnel should focus on head and neck tumor patients with the adult children,formulate targeted interventions to improve their self-efficacy,reduce the disease uncertainty,and improve the psychosocial adaptability of patients to help them return to work as soon as possible.3.Education level,children’s status,self-efficacy,unpredictability,and psychological status were the influencing factors of the readiness for return-to-work of returning head and neck cancer patients.Medical staff should focus on patients with lower education background and adult children,work with multiple departments to improve their self-efficacy,reduce their sense of unpredictability of disease,and improve their psychological status,so as to help them adapt to the status after returning to work and return to normal life better. |
