Influence of Prostate Cancer Treatment on Work Experiences with Focus on Race and Income
Abstract
Many prostate cancer survivors younger than 65 want or need to continue to work to provide income for themselves and their families. Many employed survivors and their spouses also receive valuable healthcare insurance through their employers. Furthermore, employment is associated with improved well-being. Prostate cancer survivors work-related challenges may not be equally shared across the US population. Adjusted for age, African American men are more likely than white men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Furthermore, racial and ethnic minority cancer survivors in general appear to have poorer work outcomes than white survivors following cancer. Despite the substantial number of African American men of working age impacted by prostate cancer, little is known about impact of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment on their ability to perform work tasks and maintain employment. This gap makes it difficult to provide adequate information and develop educational interventions for African American men, their healthcare providers, and employers. Improved knowledge and dissemination of that knowledge could enable African American men to improve their ability to work, thereby improving their short- and long-term quality of life. The objective of this study is to determine how a prostate cancer diagnosis, its treatment, and side effects from treatment influence African American men s work ability. The three goals are to: (1) compare the factors that influence African American and white prostate cancer survivors (a) desired and actual length of sick leave and (b) work status (e.g., full-time, part-time, unemployed) following treatment for prostate cancer; (2) identify and compare the work-related challenges experienced by African American and white prostate cancer survivors at 3 and 6 months following completion of treatment, and use of formal and informal accommodations to address these challenges; and (3) describe and compare changes in work ability and employment status experienced by African American and white prostate cancer survivors before treatment, and at 3 and 6 months after treatment. This will include the effects of (a) prostate cancer treatment-related function (bladder, bowel, and hormonal function), (b) work environment (e.g., work demands and social support), and (c) type of treatment while taking into account individual factors such as age, education, income. One-hundred sixty African American men who are age 64 or younger, employed 1 month before scheduled their initial treatment for prostate cancer, and live within 250 miles of Winston-Salem, NC will participate. Participants will complete three structured questionnaires before treatment, and 3 and 6 months following treatment completion. A subsample of 60 survivors will complete in-depth interviews at the same time as the 3- and 6-month structured questionnaires. Half the participants will be scheduled to undergo prostatectomies, and half radiation. Equal numbers of African American and white, low income and moderate to high income, will be recruited. The in-depth interviews will cover work experiences during and after treatment. They will enable survivors to raise topics, issues, and make connections that have not been previously addressed by researchers, including issues that may be primarily experienced by African American survivors. In-depth interview transcripts will be systematically analyzed to address the first two goals. The second goal will be achieved through systematic analysis of the transcripts of in-depth, semi-structured interviews participants. Results from statistical analysis of quantitative data will compared to findings from analysis of transcripts to achieve the first aim. The third goal will be achieved through statistical analysis of participant s responses to structured questionnaires administered shortly before primary treatment for prostate cancer and an abbreviated version administered 3 and 6 months after
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 2017
- Source ID
- W81XWH1610782
Entities
People
- Joanne Sandberg
Organizations
- United States Army
- Wake Forest University