Return to work for health professionals with breast cancer as health recipients: A systematized review

BackgroundHealth professionals are at increased breast cancer(BC) risk. Occupational factors are likely contributory, especially nightwork. Return to work for women with BC has received much attention. However, systematic review of return-to-work among health professionals with BC is lacking.ObjectiveTo perform systematized review of the return-to-work literature on health professionals with BC.MethodsPRISMA and ENTREQ guidelines were followed, searching PUBMED, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Web-of-Science.ResultsFrom 2242 publications, 33 primarily qualitative studies addressed return-to-work among health professionals with BC. Fourteen return-to-work studies included some health professionals with BC. Ten studies addressed return-to-work among health professionals with cancer; 264 of whom had BC. Of nine case-studies/self-reports of health professionals with BC, seven worked within oncology. Occasionally-mentioned baseline working conditions included long workhours, nightshifts and busy schedules/multi-tasking. Particular concerns regarding chemotherapy for health professionals were infection risk, fatigue, cognitive function and appearance, the latter often impacting BC disclosure to patients. Emotional burdens when confronting patients' health problems while afflicted with BC were highlighted. Occasionally-implemented modifications with return-to-work were shortened workhours, nightwork elimination, modified duties or job change. Salutogenic developments with return-to-work included emotional rewards: feeling needed and enhanced sensitivity/empathy for patients with cancer. Issues surrounding the initial BC diagnosis were very delicate for health professionals. Three oncology nurses with BC were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.ConclusionsMuch more attention should be directed to the occupational needs as well as potential contributions of health professionals with BC. Participatory action research should guide intervention studies aimed at identifying the healthiest RTW options for this special cohort.