Programme 3 : ReWork-QoL (Quality Of Life And Sustainable Return to Work)
Bringing new epidemiological information relative to social and occupational background to cancer support and quality of life as well as to the return to work after therapy.
Coordinators : Yves Roquelaure and Florence Molinié
The ReWork-QoL programme brings together teams of clinicians, academics and researchers from the CHU of Angers, the CHU of Nantes, the ICO, the Ester team (UMR Inserm 1085 – IRSET), the Loire Atlantique-Vendee cancer registry and the Sphère laboratory (UMR Inserm 1246).
It is underpinned by the multidisciplinary expertise of the players in the Loire region in epidemiology, public health, psychology, occupational health and ergonomics, having the coordination and use of health data from several cohorts (Constances and ELCCA) and the Loire Atlantique-Vendee cancer registry in common.
The objective of the ReWork-QoL programme is to provide new epidemiological information about the importance of the social and occupational background of a patient during the initial cancer care and on the determinants of the quality of life and professional reintegration (return to work, retention of employment) after therapy.
The ReWork-QoL programme is organised into 3 axes :
Axis 10 : Study of geographical and social disparities on incidence and survival.
Head Scientist : Florence Molinié
The stage of development of the cancer at the time of diagnosis is generally the cause of an inequity of opportunities for the patients, not just in terms of survival but also in terms of quality of life and return to work. This axis aims to identify the factors determinant in the detection of the disease at a more advanced stage, through an in-depth study of geographical disparities and social inequality. Studying these factors enables us to target populations who require the setting up of actions that encourage an earlier diagnosis as well as actions more specifically aimed at quality of life and return to work.
Axes 11/12 : Professional life after cancer : quality of life and retaining employment long-term
Head Scientists : Yves Roquelaure & Bertrand Porro
Quality of life : Most studies concentrate on the negative consequences of cancer ; however, a traumatic event can bring about positive changes (emotional, behavioural and post-traumatic growth). Integrated analysis of all psychological dimensions would allow us to identify what holds back or motivates patients with cancer.
Job retention : Using a descriptive approach to employability as well as a longitudinal and diachronic study of professional pathways after cancer diagnosis, the research teams aim to develop simple tools intended for health professionals to help them identify, early on, patients who are the most at risk of having difficulties in returning to or retaining their employment.