Abstract
Background
To facilitate the vocational rehabilitation of colorectal cancer patients, more information is needed on the influencing factors related to the quality of work life of colorectal cancer patients after their return to work. This study examines the Quality of Working Life (QWL) among the patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors after returning to work and identifies influencing factors.Methods
A cross-sectional study from January to May 2023 followed 290 CRC survivors from a Chinese hospital's oncology outpatient department. The General Questionnaire, Quality of Working Life Questionnaire for Cancer Survivors (QWLQ-CS), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, and the Social Support Revalued Scale were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, T-tests, ANOVA, correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted with the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0.Results
The QWL score of CRC survivors was (67.72 ± 12.21). Factors such as the per capita monthly family income, medical payment method as self-employment, basic medical insurance system for urban residents, stoma status, positive coping strategies, passive coping strategies, and social support utilization emerged as significant QWL determinants, while passive coping strategies was inversely related to QWL.Conclusion
CRC survivors have greater room for improvement in their work life (QWL) after returning to work. To enhance their reintegration and QWL, healthcare professionals should implement individualized interventions that reflect the various challenges these individuals face. It is important to provide special attention to colorectal cancer survivors who pay for their medical care directly, have residential health insurance, have an ostomy, or have a per capita family income of less than 281⁄ per month, as they tend to report worse levels of quality of work life. Clinical personnel should rapidly detect these risk factors and offer the required assistance and resources to ensure that these patients are adequately prepared to resume employment and enhance their overall quality of work life.