The largest population of cancer survivors in the United States are those who have defeated breast cancer. Often times survivors attempt to return to the workplace after treatment, but symptoms and long-term side effects can influence their ability to work. However, a recent development can help address these issues.
A Web-based tool has been designed to help improve employment outcomes for breast cancer survivors. In a presentation at the upcoming Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) 55th Annual Meeting, author Mary Sesto and colleagues will explain how the WISE (Work ability Improvement through Symptom management and Ergonomic education) system can assist survivors with managing their symptoms, identifying ergonomic workplace problems and risks, and implementing workplace changes.
Patients using the WISE tool answer general questions about work-related activities and complete a checklist of specific work tasks, issues, and current symptoms such as fatigue or pain. WISE then provides patients with tips for alleviating their symptoms and customized information on ergonomic adaptations for increasing their comfort in the workplace.
“No effective intervention exists to improve employment outcomes following any cancer diagnosis, including breast cancer,” says Sesto. “There was a need to develop an interdisciplinary resource that provides customized information and decision support tools on how to effectively manage some of the problems that people may encounter in the workplace during and following cancer treatment. In our preliminary testing, both employers and survivors found the information in WISE to be helpful.”
Roughly 30% of previously employed cancer survivors have not yet returned to work. So, developers hope WISE will help not only survivors who have returned to the workplace but also those who have yet to return. If WISE is a successful tool for patients, Sesto and her team plan to develop additional tools for survivors of other types of cancer.
Source: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.