A Social-healthcare Pathway to Facilitate Return to Work of Cancer Survivors in Italy: The UNAMANO Project

Overview

Journal Work

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Occupational Medicine

Date 2021 Nov 29

PMID 34842210

Citations 4

Authors

Sara Paltrinieri

Elena Ricchi

Elisa Mazzini

Elena Cervi

Elisa Sandri

Stefania Fugazzaro

Stefania Costi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Return to work (RTW) is a major goal to promote cancer survivors' social participation.

Objective: This study describes the multidisciplinary social-healthcare pathway called UNAMANO, conceived to support RTW in this population.

Methods: UNAMANO was developed by the Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, in partnership with the local branch of the Italian Medical Association, nonprofit associations, vocational training institutions, social cooperatives, a labour union, and a chartered accounting firm.

Results: UNAMANO is directed towards employed individuals diagnosed with cancer living in the province of RE. It was developed through four actions: A) training healthcare professionals on work-related occupational rehabilitation; B) dissemination among community and stakeholders; C) recruitment and training of volunteers; D) cancer survivor engagement and provision of a personalized comprehensive intervention. This consists in providing information and either occupational therapy to overcome barriers and facilitate RTW or social support through re-training and tailored job search strategies based on individual risk of job loss.

Conclusions: UNAMANO is the first Italian multidisciplinary social-healthcare pathway supporting RTW of cancer survivors. Addressing a wide area of cancer survivors' needs, it provides personalized intervention to resolve work-related issues. We propose this patient-centred RTW model to promote an easier transition from hospital to community.

Citing Articles

Breast cancer and occupation: Non-parametric and parametric net survival analyses among Swiss women (1990-2014).

Guseva Canu I, Bovio N, Arveux P, Bulliard J, Fournier E, Germann S Front Public Health. 2023; 11:1129708.

PMID: 37089493 PMC: 10115164. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1129708.

Research on Cancer Screening Promotion and Employment Support for Employees with Cancer at Business Establishments.

Motoi N, Ooshima A, Suzuki Y, Sasaki K Yonago Acta Med. 2023; 66(1):129-145.

PMID: 36820284 PMC: 9937971. DOI: 10.33160/yam.2023.02.015.

Men's Lived Experiences of Breast Cancer and Changes in Occupation.

Potter A, Bentz B, Crue L, Leiby S, Bashi S, Maguire K Occup Ther Int. 2023; 2023:9641922.

PMID: 36815121 PMC: 9940971. DOI: 10.1155/2023/9641922.

Adaptation of the Core Set for Vocational Rehabilitation for Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Consensus-Based Study.

Paltrinieri S, Costi S, Pellegrini M, Diaz Crescitelli M, Vicentini M, Mancuso P J Occup Rehabil. 2022; 32(4):718-730.

PMID: 35334038 PMC: 8949826. DOI: 10.1007/s10926-022-10033-y.

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