Retaining and Reintegrating Workers with Cancer

About this course

This course will bring together researchers and practitioners working within the field of cancer and work and will increase participants’ transdisciplinary knowledge, skills and attitudes with regard to supporting cancer survivors to stay in and/or return to work. Additionally, the course will increase cooperation between different experts and will help participants building a professional network on the topic of cancer and work.

The course is specially developed to bring research and practice together and to bridge the gap between both perspectives. However, one or two sessions will be organised for researchers and practitioners separately in order to create the possibility for researchers to discuss methodological and/or statistical challenges and for practitioners to discuss difficult cases.

Course objectives

• Increase participants’ transdisciplinary knowledge, skills and attitudes with regard to supporting cancer survivors to stay in and/or return to work
• Teach participants the current state of affairs in practice and science including knowledge gaps
• Teach participants how to apply the current state of affairs to future research and/or practice

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Main topics

The course will include workshops and lectures on:

• Patient journey – from initial cancer diagnosis to staying at and/or returning to work and beyond (including vulnerable groups)
• Experiences of cancer survivors with adverse work outcomes and consequences for individuals, organisations and the society.
• Stakeholders’ perspectives on adverse work outcomes of cancer survivors (e.g. employers, colleagues, occupational health practitioners, psycho-oncological professionals, partners).
• Differences between national legal and insurance systems and its implications for the role of different stakeholders
• Definitions and theoretical models for understanding adverse work outcomes of cancer survivors
• Interventions to enhance sustainable work participation of cancer survivors
• Socioeconomic inequality in cancer and work

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Target groups

• Early and mid-career researchers on cancer and work
• Occupational health practitioners (e.g. occupational physicians, case managers, re-integration specialists)
• Psycho-oncological practitioners (e.g. oncological nurse, social worker)

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Subject background

Each year, an estimated 19 million people are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. Due to earlier detection of cancer and more effective treatment strategies, the number of people who survive cancer is increasing. In many countries, the retiring age is rising, which implies that there will be a higher incidence of cancer diagnoses in the working population. The number of cancer survivors of working age is therefore expected to increase further in the next decades. At this moment, an estimated 40 to 50% of people diagnosed with cancer is between 18 and 65 years of age, and thus potentially part of the labour force.

It is increasingly recognized that remaining in and/or returning to work during or after treatment, can be a feasible and a valued goal for many cancer survivors. This is because work is associated with financial independence, a higher quality of life, higher self-esteem, and a sense of normality and personal identity. Furthermore, societies can benefit economically from facilitating cancer survivors to return to work.

Despite the advantages of having paid work, cancer survivors can experience various adverse work outcomes following their diagnosis and treatment for instance due to fatigue, cognitive complaints or pain. To give an example of an adverse work outcome, unemployment among cancer survivors is 40% higher than in people who have never been diagnosed with cancer, although unemployment rates and time to return to work vary widely within and between cancer types.

In the past fifteen years, we have seen a rapid development of the field on cancer and work, both in research and practice. With this course, we therefore aim to provide an overview of where the research community and practice stands and to identify growing point areas for future research.

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General course fee and cancellation information

The courses and workshops vary in price. Please note that the course fee does not cover meals or accommodation. The course fee and day-package fee are invoiced after the registration deadline.

Travel arrangements

Please refrain from booking any travel tickets until we have confirmed the course. The confirmation, which will be sent at the latest after the registration deadline, will include detailed information on the payment of the course fee and day-packages, as well as information on practical arrangements. Please note that you are not insured by NIVA.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations received by 25th of March 2024: full refund
Cancellations received by 26th of March 2024 or later: no refund

NIVA will issue an invoice or send information on how to pay the course with credit card (depending on the option chosen in the registration form) after the registration deadline.

The price is subject to minor changes.

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Contact persons

Course leaders

Sietske Tamminga, Assistant Professor at Amsterdam UMC, the Netherlands
email: s.tamminga1@amsterdamumc.nl

Michiel Greidanus, Postdoc researcher, Amsterdam UMC, the Netherlands
email: m.a.greidanus@amsterdamumc.nl

In practical matters, please contact:

Nathalie Räihä
Project Manager
NIVA
email: nathalie.raiha@niva.org