Return-to-work issues in healthcare workers diagnosed with cancer: Investigation and Intervention Development

Project Summary/Abstract Nurses are the largest healthcare sector, with approximately 5.2 million active licenses in the United States. However, nurses encounter occupational hazards, including working night shifts, exposure to toxic chemicals, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, which increase their risks of getting various cancer types, including breast,

lung, and colorectal cancers. Cancer diagnoses pose significant risks to nurses, including challenges to their return-to-work (RTW) and long-term impacts on their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Nurses with cancer may face unique RTW challenges, as they deal with dual roles as both healthcare providers and as recipients

of care. Through the applicant’s preliminary work, nurses described that they gain valuable insights into patient care because of their cancer experiences. Yet, nurses may experience cancer-related symptoms and emotional distress that impede them from returning to work successfully. Despite the profound impact of

cancer on the nursing profession, there is a paucity of research addressing the RTW experiences of nurses with cancer and the factors influencing their successful RTW. To address these research gaps, the proposed research training consists of two phases: F99 (predoctoral) and K00 (post-doctoral) phases. The applicant will

receive F99 training at the University of Pittsburgh and the F99 phase involves a national cross-sectional study that aims to assess the self-reported work limitations, HRQOL, perceived workplace support, and perceived successful RTW of nurses diagnosed with cancer within the past five years and have returned to clinical

positions. The K00 phase involves training in human-centered design principles and mobile health interventions, applying the above training in developing a mHealth intervention prototype collaboratively with a stakeholder panel consisting of various healthcare workers, healthcare workers with cancer, mHealth

intervention experts, and healthcare leaders, and evaluating the prototype’s acceptability and usability among healthcare workers with cancer. This proposed project seeks to bridge the research gaps in understanding the RTW experiences of nurses with cancer and it aims to develop tailored a mHealth intervention to support them

in returning to clinical positions successfully. Ultimately, the long-term goal of this project is to establish an independent program of research that promotes healthy RTW experiences among cancer survivors, thus contributing to improving their overall health and well-being.