Current status and factors influencing the work readiness of middle-aged and young postoperative lung cancer patients

Abstract

To identify the current status of return-to-work readiness and analyze its influencing factors among middle-aged and young postoperative lung cancer patients. From July 2022 to February 2023, a total of 144 middle-aged and young postoperative lung cancer patients who had been treated in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of West China Hospital, Sichuan University and had not returned to work were selected as the research subjects. A general information questionnaire, the Readiness for Return-To-Work (RRTW) Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) were used for the survey. Univariate analysis and ordinal logistic regression analysis were used to assess the current status of work readiness and its influencing factors. The distribution of work readiness from high to low was as follows: behavioral preparation-self-assessment stage, intention stage, preintention stage, and behavioral preparation-action stage. Univariate analysis showed that age, place of residence, occupation, nature of work, average family income, scope of surgery, postoperative complications, surgical site, and primary coping strategies were statistically significant (P < .05). The ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that patients engaged in mentally oriented work (odds ratio [OR] = 13.78, P < .001), with a monthly family income of ≥ 10,000¥ (OR = 6.28, P = .017), proactive coping strategies (OR = 4.84, P = .019), and higher self-efficacy (OR = 1.17, P < .001) had higher work readiness. Patients engaged in other industries (OR = 0.25, P = .028), agricultural, forestry, and fishing labor (OR = 0.08, P < .001), unemployed (OR = 0.12, P = .038), and with a monthly family income of < 1000¥ (OR = 0.07, P = .026) had lower work readiness. In overall, this study suggests that the work readiness of postoperative lung cancer patients needs improvement. Occupation, nature of work, average family income, primary coping strategies, and general self-efficacy are associated with return-to-work readiness among middle-aged and young postoperative lung cancer patients.