The correlates of unemployment and its association with quality of life in cervical cancer survivors.
10.3802/jgo.2013.24.4.367
- Author:
Shin Hye YOO
1
;
Young Ho YUN
;
Sangmin PARK
;
Young Ae KIM
;
Sang Yoon PARK
;
Duk Soo BAE
;
Joo Hyun NAM
;
Chong Taik PARK
;
Chi Heum CHO
;
Jong Min LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Medical Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. lawyun@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cancer survivor;
Cervical cancer;
Health-related quality of life;
Unemployment
- MeSH:
Comorbidity;
Depression;
Employment;
Humans;
Korea;
Logistic Models;
Odds Ratio;
Quality of Life;
Survivors;
Unemployment;
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
- From:Journal of Gynecologic Oncology
2013;24(4):367-375
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Little is known regarding cervical cancer survivors' employment status, which represents social integration of cancer survivors as a pivotal domain of long-term quality of life. The goal of this study was to assess the correlates of unemployment and evaluate the impact on the comprehensive quality of life in cervical cancer survivors. METHODS: We enrolled 858 cervical cancer survivors from the gynecologic oncology departments of multi-centers in Korea. Factors associated with unemployment were identified using multivariate logistic regression analyses. We assessed different health-related quality of life domains with multivariate-adjusted least-square means between cervical cancer survivors who currently work and do not. RESULTS: After diagnosis and treatment, the percentage of unemployed survivors increased from 50.6% to 72.8%. Lower income (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38 to 2.81), medical aid (aOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.05 to 2.38), two or more comorbidities (aOR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.12 to 2.90), current alcohol drinkers (aOR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.54 to 3.52), and employed at the time of diagnosis (aOR, 10.72; 95% CI, 7.10 to 16.16) were significantly associated with unemployment. Non-working groups showed significant differences with respect to physical functioning, role functioning, depression, and existential well-being. CONCLUSION: The proportion of unemployed cervical cancer survivors seems to increase, with low-income status and the presence of medical aid negatively being associated with employment, in addition to other comorbidities and previous working status. Effort should be made to secure the financial status of cervical cancer survivors.
