Background: Identification of factors associated with work disability in cancer survivors on long term sick leave\r\nmay support these survivors in choosing effective measures to facilitate vocational rehabilitation and return to work.\r\nTherefore, this study aims to disclose factors associated with work disability in cancer survivors at 24 months of sick\r\nleave.\r\nMethods: A cross sectional study was conducted. The study population consisted of employed sick-listed cancer\r\nsurvivors, aged between 18 and 64 years. They received a questionnaire at 24-month sick leave, the maximum\r\nperiod of sick leave allowed by Dutch social security legislation. Data were linked with the outcome of work\r\ndisability assessment, as performed by the Dutch social security agency. A hierarchical multivariate logistic\r\nregression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with work disability.\r\nResults: Data of 351 valid cases were analysed. The multivariate analysis showed that, for cancer survivors at\r\n24-month sick leave, Dutch nationality, higher education, receiving hormone therapy, metastatic disease, physical\r\nlimitations and low self-reported work ability were associated with an increased risk for work disability.\r\nConclusions: This study identified factors associated with work disability of employed cancer survivors at\r\n24 months of sick leave. The results of the current study may serve as a starting point to investigate the course of\r\nwork disability beyond the maximum period of 24 months of sick leave. In order to enhance work participation of\r\ncancer survivors beyond this term, prospective data on work disability in the Netherlands are required.
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