Introduction
Methods
Study design
Part 1: Generation of QWL issues
Participants
Procedure
Analysis
Part 2: Selection of QWL issues
Participants
Procedure
Analysis
Results
Part 1: Generation of QWL issues
Focus group with OOPs
Focus group with cancer survivors
Focus groups | Online questionnaire | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N = 24 |
N = 20 | ||||
Demographic characteristics | |||||
Age (mean in years ± SD) | 54 ± 7 | 54 ± 7 | |||
N
| (%) |
N
| (%) | ||
Gender—male | 17 | (70.8) | 12 | (60.0) | |
Marital status | Married/living together with a partner | 17 | (70.8) | 14 | (70.0) |
Working partner | 15 | (88.2) | 12 | (60.0) | |
Sole breadwinner | 10 | (59.0) | 7 | (50.0) | |
Single | 3 | (12.5) | 2 | (10.0) | |
Divorced | 4 | (16.7) | 4 | (20.0) | |
Diagnosis | Lymphoma | 3 | (12.5) | 3 | (15.0) |
Leukemia | 7 | (29.2) | 6 | (30.0) | |
Prostate cancer | 5 | (20.8) | 4 | (20.0) | |
Testicular cancer | 2 | (8.3) | 0 | (0.0) | |
Breast cancer | 2 | (8.3) | 4 | (20.0) | |
Kahler’s disease | 1 | (4.2) | 1 | (5.0) | |
Langerhans cell histiocytosis | 1 | (4.2) | 1 | (5.0) | |
Multiple cancer diagnoses | 3 | (12.5) | 1 | (5.0) | |
Treatment | Surgery | 5 | (20.8) | 3 | (15.0) |
Chemotherapy | 4 | (16.7) | 4 | (20.0) | |
Other (e.g., radiotherapy, stem cell transplant, hormone therapy) | 2 | (8.3) | 2 | (10.0) | |
Combined treatment from the above | 13 | (54.2) | 11 | (45.8) | |
Work characteristics | |||||
Education | Intermediate vocational education | 4 | (16.7) | 2 | (10.0) |
Secondary education | 4 | (16.7) | 3 | (15.0) | |
Higher professional education | 11 | (45.8) | 12 | (60.0) | |
Academic education | 5 | (20.8) | 3 | (15.0) | |
Work contract | Permanent position | 20 | (83.3) | 10 | (50.0) |
Self-employed | 4 | (16.7) | 6 | (30.0) | |
Contract hours | Full-time | 17 | (70.8) | 12 | (60.0) |
Part-time (12–32 h) | 6 | (25.0) | 3 | (15.0) | |
Sick leave (100 %) | 1 | (4.2) | 1 | (5.0) | |
Occupations | Managementa
| 6 | (25.0) | 5 | (25.0) |
Clericalb
| 3 | (12.5) | 2 | (10.0) | |
Educationc
| 4 | (16.7) | 3 | (15.0) | |
Healthd
| 3 | (12.5) | 3 | (15.0) | |
Municipalitye
| 2 | (8.3) | 1 | (5.0) | |
Otherf
| 6 | (25.0) | 6 | (30.0) |
Semi-structured interviews with employers, supervisors, and organization officers
Focus groups or interviews | Online questionnaire | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N = 17 |
N = 9 | ||||
Demographic characteristics | |||||
Age (mean in years ± SD) | 52 ± 7 | 55 ± 7 | |||
N | (%) | (N) | (%) | ||
Gender—male | 8 | (47.1) | 5 | (55.6) | |
Work characteristics | |||||
Occupations | Managementa
| 5 | (29.4) | 3 | (33.3) |
Human Resourcesb
| 2 | (11.8) | 0 | (0.0) | |
Healthc
| 8 | (47.1) | 6 | (66.7) | |
Otherd
| 2 | (11.8) | 0 | (0.0) | |
Number of employees supported | 0–50 | 12 | (70.6) | 6 | (66.7) |
50–100 | 1 | (5.9) | 0 | (0.0) | |
≥100 | 4 | (23.5) | 3 | (33.3) |
QWL issues
Part 2: Selection of QWL issues
Online questionnaire
Relevance and importance of QWL issues
Selection of issues
Category | Phrased | Items |
---|---|---|
General | Positive | 1.I am satisfied with my work |
2.I appreciate my work | ||
3.I have positive feelings about my work | ||
4.I enjoy doing my work | ||
5.I think my work is important | ||
6.I really want to work | ||
7.I think it is good to work | ||
8.I think it is necessary to work | ||
9.I think my work is meaningful because I am doing something useful | ||
10.I think my work gives me a purpose in life | ||
11.Because I work, I count in life | ||
12.I am suitable for my work | ||
Work perceptions | Positive | 13.I feel involved with the organization |
14.I feel connected to the organization | ||
15.I feel valuable for my colleagues and/or the organization | ||
16.I feel welcome at work | ||
17.I have a good work-life balance | ||
18.I have the feeling I can be myself | ||
19.I am self-confident in my work | ||
20.I am in charge at work | ||
21.I have self-esteem in my work | ||
22.I am able to develop my personal skills | ||
Negative | 23.I feel uncertain about the future | |
24.I am afraid the disease will return | ||
25.I think my work responsibilities are hard | ||
26.I think my work duties are hard | ||
27.I am afraid my job function will change | ||
28.I feel powerless | ||
29.I am afraid to make mistakes | ||
30.I feel vulnerable | ||
31.I feel helpless | ||
Job characteristics | Positive | 32.Work gives structure to my life |
33.I like my work activities | ||
34.I like my work duties | ||
35.I am satisfied with my work hours | ||
36.Years of service is important to me | ||
37.I am certain that I will keep my job | ||
38.I am satisfied about the fringe benefits of my work | ||
39.I am satisfied with my salary | ||
40.I am pleased to determine my work hours | ||
41.I am pleased to determine my work places | ||
42.I am satisfied with the adjustments in my work duties | ||
43.I am satisfied with the adjustments in my work hours | ||
44.I am satisfied with the facilities at my work | ||
45.My work circumstances are good | ||
46.I have a nice workplace | ||
47.My workplace is easily accessible | ||
48.My career opportunities are good | ||
49.I receive good further education and in-service-training | ||
Negative | 50.I have to travel a long way to get to work | |
51.I experience a high workload | ||
Social structure and environment | Positive | 52.The contact with my workplace is good |
53.I receive support from my social environment outside work | ||
54.I have a good relationship with my supervisor | ||
55.I receive support from my supervisor | ||
56.I have good relationships with my colleagues | ||
57.I receive support from my colleagues | ||
58.I receive support from my specialist and/or occupational physician | ||
59.I receive support from my buddy and/or confidential advisor | ||
60.I appreciate the fact that my specialist and/or occupational physician is giving me concrete information | ||
61.I have good social contacts with my customers/clients | ||
62.My clients cooperate with me | ||
63.I experience a positive atmosphere in my work environment | ||
64.I think that employees with a disease are treated well in my organization | ||
65.I experience a safe atmosphere in my work | ||
66.I feel they have faith in me at work | ||
67.I am taken seriously in my work | ||
68.I like to participate in social activities at my work | ||
69.I like to participate in social activities in my private life | ||
70.I am respected by my colleagues | ||
71.I am respected by my supervisor | ||
72.My colleagues understand my disease and its symptoms | ||
73.My supervisor understands my disease and its symptoms | ||
74.I disclose my disease and the current situation | ||
75.I communicate clearly with my colleagues | ||
76.I communicate clearly with my supervisor | ||
77.I communicate clearly with the Human Resources department | ||
Negative | 78.My environment has high expectations of me | |
79.My colleagues have high expectations of me | ||
80.My supervisor has high expectations of me | ||
81.My colleagues feel pity for me | ||
82.My occupational physician/Human Resources department have a negative attitude towards me | ||
83.I experience taboos about my disease at work | ||
84.I have negative confrontations with colleagues | ||
Organizational structure | Positive | 85.Departments communicate clearly about the adjustments in my work |
86.Within the organization, clear agreements are made concerning my work | ||
87.In my organization there are clear company regulations | ||
88.The organization is involved with me as an employee | ||
Negative | 89.There is not much openness about the course of events in my organization | |
Effects of the disease and treatment | Positive | 90.I am performing |
91.I am productive | ||
92.I am able to estimate whether I can perform | ||
93.I accept my disease and limitations | ||
94.I feel I am in charge of my (working) life | ||
95.I can resume my work activities | ||
Negative | 96.I have difficulties recovering because of my symptoms and/or side effects | |
97.I experience stress at work | ||
98.I am limited at my work because of my disease | ||
99.I have poor health with concentration/memory problems | ||
100.I have poor health with a shortage of energy/fatigue | ||
101.I am losing confidence in my own body | ||
102.I experience stress in my private life |