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. 2022 Apr;30(4):2971-2982.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06615-w. Epub 2021 Oct 13.

Experiences of women with breast cancer while working or returning to work: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis

Faustine Sze Ing Tan  1 , Shefaly Shorey  2
Affiliations

Experiences of women with breast cancer while working or returning to work: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis

Faustine Sze Ing Tan et al. Support Care Cancer. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review aims to consolidate the available qualitative evidence regarding the experiences of women with breast cancer while working or returning to work.

Methods: Six electronic databases were searched until December 2020 for qualitative English-language articles examining the experiences of adult females with reproductive cancers while working or returning to work. The Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist was used to assess the quality of included studies while the Sandelowski and Barroso's two step approach was used to meta-summarize and meta-synthesize the extracted data.

Results: Four themes were derived from the 28 included studies: (i) being lost to finding meaning after the cancer diagnosis; (ii) concerns and considerations before returning to work; (iii) reasons for returning to work; and (iv) life at work after cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Conclusions: Current findings allowed a deeper understanding into the way the women with breast cancer coped during their cancer journey. Challenges and motivating factors faced by these women while working or returning to work were discussed. Improvements to current support systems and working policies are needed to better support this group of women.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Meta-synthesis; Return to work; Women.

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