Qualitative study on occupational anxiety among young thyroid cancer survivors before returning to work

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the manifestations of occupational anxiety in young thyroid cancer survivors prior to their return to work and to explore coping strategies and essential support upon their return to work. Using purposive sampling, 13 young thyroid cancer survivors were selected for in-depth interviews from July to October 2023. Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method and NVivo software were used to analyze and organize the interview data. Three themes and 12 subthemes were summarized from the interview data: occupational anxiety caused by disease (fear of cancer recurrence, medication behavior anxiety, stigma of illness); manifestations of occupational anxiety (physical disruption, concerns about work intensity, dissatisfaction with the working environment, career disruption, career and job security disruption); and coping strategies (self-regulation, self-improvement, family support, peer support). Medical professionals should recognize the impact of occupational anxiety on young thyroid cancer survivors before returning to work. They should accurately identify and understand the causes, manifestations, and coping methods to alleviate survivors' occupational anxiety prior to their return to work. By establishing vocational guidance, they can improve survivors' cognition regarding the benefits of returning to work and reduce their occupational anxiety.

Keywords

occupational anxiety / qualitative study / Young

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2025 The Author(s). Precision Medical Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital.