Predictors of Work-Related Disability During Early Phases of Breast Cancer Treatment.
Rachelle Brick, Elizabeth Skidmore, Lauren Terhorst and 2 others
PMID 30664010WHAT IT FOUND
Women with breast cancer who stayed working had more work-related disability than matched controls.
Across the analysed sample, disability decreased over time, and physical problems were more closely linked to work difficulty than mood or cognition.
Key findings
01The secondary analysis included 45 participants.
02Women with breast cancer had higher work-related disability than healthy controls, and disability decreased from baseline to follow-up.
03At follow-up, work-related disability was strongly associated with physical limitations, especially hand use and sensory/perceptual impairments.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
This was a secondary analysis, not a randomised trial, so it cannot show that treatment caused work-related disability. The analysed sample was small, and many women with breast cancer did not have complete follow-up data. Women who stopped working after treatment began were excluded, so findings may not apply to those with the most severe work disruption. The sample was mostly well-educated and employed in managerial, administrative, or clerical roles, which limits generalisability. Cancer stage and adjuvant treatment varied, making it hard to attribute work-related disability to one treatment component.
Declared interests
The supplied article text does not include a funding or conflict-of-interest declaration; the provided publication types indicate NIH extramural research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that a specific treatment caused or reduced work-related disability. This was a non-randomised cohort analysis, and women who stopped working were excluded.