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Purpose <p>Returning to work has been considered a significant indicator of cancer rehabilitation. Young and middle-aged head and neck cancer survivors face specific challenges during this process, yet their positive post-returning experiences remain underexplored. This study aimed to uncover these positive experiences to inform strategies for optimizing returning to work outcomes.</p> Methods <p>A qualitative study employing interpretive description methodology was conducted with 15 young and middle-aged head and neck cancer survivors who had returned to work from August 2023 to April 2024. Participants were invited to participate in face-to-face, individual, semi-structured interviews. We recruited the participants using convenience and snowball sampling from one tertiary comprehensive hospital in Shanghai, which also serves as the National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases.</p> Results <p>Fifteen participants had a mean age of 43.7 (standard deviation[SD] = 6.7), and the average time from completion of surgery to return is 6&#xa0;months (SD = 4.9). Interview data analysis indicated that the return to work provided positive experiences in three themes: (1) personal growth, (2) family dynamics, and (3) workplace engagement, with 10 sub-themes identified.</p> Conclusions <p>This qualitative study indicated that although HNC participants encountered challenges during the process of returning, RTW brought them positive experiences in personal growth, family dynamics, and work engagement.</p> <p>Implications for cancer survivors.</p> <p>It is essential that healthcare providers convey this perspective to patients and their families throughout the treatment and rehabilitation process. Multisectoral collaboration—integrating healthcare systems, workplaces, and social policies—is essential to sustain survivors’ motivation and address systemic barriers during reintegration.</p>

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“A journey of enrichment” positive experiences for young and middle-aged head and neck cancer survivors after returning to work: a qualitative study

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月25日

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  • Yuanyuan Zhang,
  • Yueping Wang,
  • Jie Wu,
  • Haocen Wang,
  • Xingjuan Tao,
  • Mengyao Li,
  • Yaqi Zhu,
  • Anqi Wu,
  • Lili Hou

摘要

Purpose

Returning to work has been considered a significant indicator of cancer rehabilitation. Young and middle-aged head and neck cancer survivors face specific challenges during this process, yet their positive post-returning experiences remain underexplored. This study aimed to uncover these positive experiences to inform strategies for optimizing returning to work outcomes.

Methods

A qualitative study employing interpretive description methodology was conducted with 15 young and middle-aged head and neck cancer survivors who had returned to work from August 2023 to April 2024. Participants were invited to participate in face-to-face, individual, semi-structured interviews. We recruited the participants using convenience and snowball sampling from one tertiary comprehensive hospital in Shanghai, which also serves as the National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases.

Results

Fifteen participants had a mean age of 43.7 (standard deviation[SD] = 6.7), and the average time from completion of surgery to return is 6 months (SD = 4.9). Interview data analysis indicated that the return to work provided positive experiences in three themes: (1) personal growth, (2) family dynamics, and (3) workplace engagement, with 10 sub-themes identified.

Conclusions

This qualitative study indicated that although HNC participants encountered challenges during the process of returning, RTW brought them positive experiences in personal growth, family dynamics, and work engagement.

Implications for cancer survivors.

It is essential that healthcare providers convey this perspective to patients and their families throughout the treatment and rehabilitation process. Multisectoral collaboration—integrating healthcare systems, workplaces, and social policies—is essential to sustain survivors’ motivation and address systemic barriers during reintegration.