Journal
PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY
Volume 27, Issue 9, Pages 2229-2236Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/pon.4800
Keywords
cancer; depressive symptoms; executive function symptoms; fatigue; job type; oncology; working hours; working memory symptoms; work-specific cognitive symptoms
Funding
- Dutch Cancer Society [RUG2011-5266]
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Objective: Cancer patients can experience work-specific cognitive symptoms post return to work. The study aims to (1) describe the course of work-specific cognitive symptoms in the first 18 months post return to work and (2) examine the associations of work characteristics, fatigue and depressive symptoms with work-specific cognitive symptoms over time. Methods: This study used data from the 18-month longitudinal Work Life after Cancer cohort. The Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work Dutch Version (CSC-W DV) was used to measure work-specific cognitive symptoms. Linear mixed models were performed to examine the course of work-specific cognitive symptoms during 18-month follow-up; linear regression analyses with generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations over time. Results: Working cancer patients examined with different cancer types were included (n = 378). Work-specific cognitive symptoms were stable over 18 months. At baseline, cancer patients reported more working memory symptoms (M = 32.0; CI, 30.0-34.0) compared with executive function symptoms (M = 19.3; CI, 17.6-20.9). Cancer patients holding a job with both manual and nonmanual tasks reported less work-specific cognitive symptoms (unstandardized regression coefficient b = -4.80; CI, -7.76 to -1.83) over time, compared with cancer patients with a nonmanual job. Over time, higher depressive symptoms were related to experiencing more overall work-specific cognitive symptoms (b = 1.27; CI, 1.00-1.55) and a higher fatigue score was related to more working memory symptoms (b = 0.13; CI, 0.04-0.23). Conclusions: Job type should be considered when looking at work-specific cognitive symptoms over time in working cancer patients. To reduce work-specific cognitive symptoms, interventions targeted at fatigue and depressive symptoms might be promising.
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