Public Attitudes Toward Cancer Survivors Returning to Work: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer survivors with adequate social support often show increased motivation to return to work. While prior research has explored the determinants of return to work among cancer survivors, there is a paucity of studies focusing on public attitudes toward their reintegration into the workplace, particularly those attitudes shaped by social and cultural factors. Methods: This study is qualitative, grounded in social support theory. We employed a semistructured interview approach to engage 28 public members in Jiangsu Province. Data were analyzed thematically using both inductive and deductive methods. Results: The public attitudes toward cancer survivors returning to work encompass six themes and twelve subthemes: (1) work ability (ability diminished and changing jobs or positions), (2) health status (enhancing physical and mental health and adverse effects on physical and mental health), (3) support system (policy support, employer’s support, and colleague and family support), (4) returning to family, (5) self-realization (self-reconstruction and physical and mental reintegration), and (6) pressure from colleagues and leaders (interpersonal relationship pressure and psychological burden). Conclusion: The public exhibits a range of complex and diverse attitudes toward cancer survivors resuming employment, influenced by underlying social, cultural, and psychological factors. While there is widespread understanding and support, concerns and anxiety also persist. This multifaceted perspective mirrors the intricate perceptions of cancer and its ramifications. Nurses play a critical role in facilitating the reintegration of cancer survivors into the workforce by identifying factors that either facilitate or impede this process. By recognizing and addressing these factors, nurses can significantly support the return to work of cancer survivors.