Introduction
Methods
Setting and participants
Data collection
Measures
Statistical analysis
Results
Socio-demographic characteristics | ||
Age in years at time of study (mean ± SD) | 49.5 ± 9.8 |
N = 223 |
Gender [N (%) male] | 49 (22) |
N = 223 |
Marital status [N (%) married or living with partner] | 187 (84) |
N = 223 |
Educational level [N (%)] | ||
High | 68 (31) |
N = 222 |
Intermediate | 108 (49) | |
Low | 46 (21) | |
Clinical characteristics | ||
Years since initial diagnosis (mean ± SD) | 9.9 ± 5.2 |
N = 223 |
Type of thyroid cancer [N (%)] | ||
Papillary | 171 (77) |
N = 213 |
Follicular | 41 (19) | |
Medullary | 9 (4) | |
Primary treatment [N (%)] | ||
Surgery | 63 (29) |
N = 223 |
Surgery + 131I ablation | 145 (70) | |
Other | 2 (1) | |
Stage at diagnosis [N (%)] | ||
1 | 158 (72) |
N = 220 |
2 | 26 (12) | |
3 | 29 (13) | |
4 | 7 (3) | |
Number of comorbidity at time of study [median (range)] | 0 (0–9) |
N = 223 |
Fatigue (FAS) (mean ± SD) | 21.8 ± 7.6 |
N = 212 |
Anxiety (HADS) (mean ± SD) | 4.7 ± 3.9 |
N = 215 |
Depression (HADS) (mean ± SD) | 3.2 ± 3.0 |
N = 215 |
Employment outcomes and work changes
Employment outcomes | ||
Employment at this moment [N (%) employed] | 154 (71) |
N = 217 |
Reason for no employment [N (%)] | ||
No job | 4 (6) |
N = 63 |
Work disabled | 21 (33) | |
(Early) retirement | 9 (14) | |
Other | 29 (46) | |
Disability percentage [median (range)] | 100 (30–100) |
N = 19 |
Change in employment status due to cancer [N (%) yes] | 74 (33) |
N = 223 |
Type of work changes due to cancer [N (%)]a
| ||
Fired | 10 (5) |
N = 87 |
Disability | 21 (9) | |
Early pension | 2 (1) | |
Stopped working | 9 (4) | |
Re-educated | 6 (3) | |
Working more hours | 3 (1) | |
Working less hours | 36 (16) | |
If employed, number of hours working (mean ± SD) | 28 ± 12 |
N = 156 |
Financial difficulties due to cancer [N (%) yes] | 21 (10) |
N = 219 |
Concerned about not being able to work if become ill again | ||
Totally agree and agree | 25 (22) |
N = 158 |
Neutral | 24 (15) | |
Totally disagree and disagree | 99 (62) |
Insurance outcomes
Factors associated with not having employment
Model 1 OR (95 % CI) | Model 2 OR (95 % CI) | Model 3 OR (95 % CI) | Model 1 + 2 + 3 OR (95 % CI) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Block 1: demographic variables | ||||
Age at survey |
1.07 (1.03–1.11)** | – | – |
1.07 (1.02–1.11)** |
Educational level |
3.67 (1.78–7.58)** | – | – |
3.22 (CI 1.46–7.09)** |
Block 2: clinical variables | ||||
Cancer stage | – | 2.02 (0.92–4.43) | – | 0.99 (0.39–2.51) |
Comorbidity | – |
3.58 (1.90–6.71)**
| – | 2.05 (0.99–4.24) |
Block 3: long-term side effects variables | ||||
Fatigue (FAS) | – | – |
1.07 (1.01–1.12)* |
1.07 (CI 1.01–1.14)* |
Depression (HADS) | – | – | 1.03 (0.89–1.19) | 0.93 (0.79–1.10) |
Anxiety (HADS) | – | – | 0.99 (0.89–1.11) | 1.02 (0.91–1.15) |
Quality of life and employment
Health-related characteristics | Employment | Without employment |
---|---|---|
THYCA-QoL | ||
Neuromuscular problems (mean ± SD) | 20.1 ± 19.5 | 32.0 ± 25.9** |
Voice problems (mean ± SD) | 7.6 ± 15.2 | 16.1 ± 24.9* |
Concentration problems (mean ± SD) | 16.4 ± 21.5 | 18.8 ± 24.6 |
Sympathetic problems (mean ± SD) | 16.8 ± 24.4 | 25.8 ± 3 0.2 |
Throat problems (mean ± SD) | 10.4 ± 14.6 | 18.2 ± 23.2 |
Psychological problems (mean ± SD) | 13.6 ± 15.1 | 18.8 ± 20.7 |
Sensory problems (mean ± SD) | 13.3 ± 18.0 | 19.6 ± 22.4 |
Overall quality of life (mean ± SD) | 69.4 ± 16.5 | 61.7 ± 20.4** |