Work Ability in Young Adult Surviviors (WAYS): A Quantitative Investigation

 描述（由申请人提供）：尽管年轻的成年癌症幸存者越来越多， 作为一个处于职业生涯早期的群体，人们对青少年和年轻成年人发病癌症的年轻成年幸存者的身体、认知和心理社会功能方面的癌症相关损伤如何限制工作能力和劳动力参与知之甚少。本研究的具体目的是：（1）记录年轻成年癌症幸存者在癌症治疗后的劳动力参与，职业和教育程度水平，并描述工作能力水平与这些结果之间的关系;和（2）确定自我报告的身体（包括症状）、认知和心理社会问题与癌症诊断和治疗相关的研究，以及青年癌症幸存者的工作能力。本研究将利用维克森林国家癌症研究所社区肿瘤学研究计划研究基地，招募年龄在25-34岁之间的年轻成年癌症幸存者（N=200）的代表性、种族多样性样本。参与者将完成认知测试和详细的问卷调查，评估职业和教育状况，各种工作措施，以及自我报告的身体，心理和认知功能。劳动力参与水平、职业地位和教育程度将与同一年龄组的国家基准进行比较。研究假设是，年轻成年癌症幸存者的工作相关和教育成果将低于国家基准，工作场所环境，癌症相关因素（例如，治疗类型，诊断后的时间）和存活者特征（例如，保险状况、社会支持）担任调节者。这些数据将为未来的纵向研究提供信息，以确定年轻成年幸存者与匹配对照组之间癌症和工作成果之间的因果关系。这项研究的创新特点包括：重点关注年轻的成年幸存者，这是一个规模庞大、研究不足的群体，他们在工作轨迹的开始处于形成和过渡时期;通过已建立的社区癌症提供者网络进行招聘;有针对性的少数族裔招聘战略;使用理论指导的方法;扩大与工作有关的成果，将工作能力包括在内;以及一个由癌症和年轻人利益相关者组成的咨询委员会，他们可以就相关问题提供现实世界的观点。考虑到青年时期是一个关键的过渡时期，癌症经历对青年幸存者的教育和就业结果的预期影响可能会产生长期影响。这项研究将提供详细的信息，设计政策和支持性干预措施，以帮助年轻的成年癌症幸存者在实现职业和教育的成功。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite the growing number of young adult cancer survivors, a group early in their career trajectory, little is known about how cancer-related impairments in physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning limit work ability and labor force participation among young adult survivors of adolescent and young adult onset cancers. The specific aims for this study are to: (1) document levels of labor force participation, occupation, and educational attainment following cancer treatment in young adult cancer survivors and to describe the relationship between levels of work ability and these outcomes; and (2) determine associations of self-reported physical (including symptoms), cognitive, and psychosocial issues related to cancer diagnosis and treatment with work ability in young adult cancer survivors. This study will take advantage of the Wake Forest National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program Research Base to recruit a representative, ethnically diverse sample of young adult cancer survivors (N=200) aged 25-34 years. Participants will complete cognitive testing and a detailed questionnaire assessing occupation and education status, a variety of work measures, and self-reported physical, psychosocial, and cognitive function. Levels of labor force participation, occupational status, and educational attainment will be compared to national benchmarks for the same age cohort. Study hypotheses are that young adult cancer survivors' work-related and educational outcomes will be lower than national benchmarks, with workplace environment, cancer-related factors (e.g., treatment type, time since diagnosis) and survivor characteristics (e.g., insurance status, social support) serving as moderators. These data will inform future longitudinal research to determine causal links between cancer and work outcomes in young adult survivors versus a matched comparison group. Innovative features of this study include: its focus on young adult survivors, a sizable and under-studied group who are at a formative, transitional time at the beginning of the work trajectory; recruitment through an established network of community cancer providers; a targeted minority recruitment strategy; use of a theory-guided approach; expansion of work-related outcomes to include work ability; and an advisory board with cancer and young adult stakeholders who can provide real-world perspectives on relevant issues. Considering young adulthood as a key transition period, the expected impact of the cancer experience on education and employment outcomes among young adult survivors may have long-term repercussions. This study will provide detailed information essential for designing policy and supportive interventions to aid young adult cancer survivors in achieving occupational and educational success.