Employees' attitudes toward cancer, cancer survivors, and cancer survivors’ return to work

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate employees' attitudes toward cancer, patients with cancer, and cancer survivors’ return to work. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional survey with online questionnaires to collect data during a 1-month period in April 2022. A stratified sampling method was used to select 237 participants. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and an independent t-test. RESULTS: The following trends were observed regarding attitudes toward cancer and patients with cancer: impossibility of recovery: 9.00 ​± ​2.10 (4–16); stereotypes: 8.08 ​± ​2.12 (4–16); discrimination: 6.98 ​± ​2.26 (4–16); and financial instability: 7.37 ​± ​1.87 (3–12). Regarding public attitudes toward cancer survivors' return to work, the following results were confirmed: gender and living with family members/acquaintances who had survived cancer significantly impacted perceptions toward cancer survivors’ return to work. For both variables (gender and job type), a significant difference was observed. Men had significantly higher negative perceptions of patients with cancer and their return to work than women, and there were significant differences between professional group and labor group. Moreover, participants living with cancer survivors (either among their family members or acquaintances) showed a significant difference in terms of attitudes toward cancer and patients with cancer and a greater recognition of such survivors’ return to the workplace. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a reduction in social stigma attached to cancer and cancer survivors, survivors may find returning to the workplace difficult. Public efforts and strategies are necessary for increasing awareness and reducing discrimination in society. This study's results could be used as basic data for establishing a social support system in the workplace and developing policies and educational programs to increase awareness about cancer survivors' issues.