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人数不断增加， 作为一个职业生涯早期的群体，人们对癌症相关的身体、认知和心理社会功能障碍如何限制青春期和青春期癌症幸存者的工作能力和劳动力参与知之甚少。这项研究的具体目的是：(1)记录年轻癌症幸存者接受癌症治疗后的劳动力参与度、职业和教育程度，并描述工作能力水平与这些结果之间的关系；(2)确定青年癌症幸存者自我报告的与癌症诊断和治疗相关的身体(包括症状)、认知和心理社会问题与工作能力的关系。这项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岁的年轻成年癌症幸存者(N=200)中具有代表性的、不同种族的样本。参与者将完成认知测试和一份详细的问卷，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。劳动力参与度、职业地位和教育程度将与相同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和教育成果将低于国家基准，工作环境、与癌症相关的因素(例如，治疗类型、自确诊以来的时间)和幸存者的特征(例如，保险状况、社会支持)是调节因素。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的对照组中癌症和工作结果之间的因果联系。这项研究的创新特点包括：它侧重于年轻的成年幸存者，这是一个相当大的、研究不足的群体，他们在工作轨迹开始时处于形成和过渡时期；通过社区癌症提供者的既定网络进行招聘；有针对性的少数群体招聘战略；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；以及一个由癌症和青年利益攸关方组成的咨询委员会，他们可以就相关问题提供现实世界的观点。考虑到青壮年是一个关键的过渡期，癌症经历对年轻成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。这项研究将为设计政策和支持性干预措施提供必要的详细信息，以帮助年轻的成年癌症幸存者取得职业和教育上的成功。

 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.