Facilitating Factors and Barriers in the Return to Work of Working Women Survivors of Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Working breast cancer survivors face several challenges when returning to work (RTW). Some qualitative studies have been carried out taking into account just the vision of these women in relation to the facilitators and barriers encountered when RTW. However, this study aims to complement the patient’s vision with two very active agents in this process, such as health professionals and company managers. Although the experience of working women with breast cancer, health professionals and company managers did not always coincide, these focus groups provided many barriers and facilitators in the RTW process of female workers with breast cancer. Many of the problems seen by these agents were related to the lack of understanding and adaptation to the situation (e.g., the company did not provide an explanation to the colleagues of the affected worker). New protocols and multidisciplinary work involving different agents (including physical and psychological rehabilitation) seem to be necessary. ABSTRACT: Several studies have identified the main barriers and facilitators that breast cancer survivors experience in the return to work (RTW). The authors conducted a qualitative study using focus group discussions with a group of female non-metastatic breast cancer survivors (n = 6), a group of health professionals from different medical specialties (n = 8), and a third group of company managers mainly composed of human resources managers (n = 7). The study was carried out between March and December 2021 in Zaragoza (Spain). Transcripts were analyzed using inductive content analysis to identify work-related barriers and facilitators and coded by the research team. Barriers identified included physical and cognitive symptoms, psychosocial problems, lack of knowledge and coordination (health professional, patients, and managers), legal vacuum, physical change, time constraints, work characteristics (lower skilled jobs), unsupportive supervisors and coworkers, family problems and self-demand. Facilitators included family and work support, physical activity and rehabilitation, personalized attention, interdisciplinary collaboration, legal advice for workers, knowledge about breast cancer in companies, positive aspects of work, elaboration of protocols for RTW in women with breast cancer. RTW in working women with breast cancer requires a personalized and holistic view that includes the perspectives of patients, healthcare professionals and company managers.