A Pilot Study of Working Women and Breast Cancer

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this research is to better understand the relationship between employment and breast cancer. Research is being conducted to understand how workplace factors influence breast cancer patients' ability to adhere to recommended cancer treatment and effectively recover from cancer. Investigators hope to use the findings from the study to help working breast cancer survivors make informed decisions about treatment and employment in collaboration with their employers and healthcare providers.

Detailed Description
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Patients enrolled will be interviewed three times over a six month period. They will be asked questions about their experiences in managing their cancer while taking care of their job responsibilities. Patients will be asked to complete a survey that asks questions about their breast cancer treatment, their job, and how they manage their responsibilities while undergoing cancer treatment. The first initial meeting will be conducted at a time and location that is convenient for the patient. This meeting should last about an hour to an hour and a half. Three and six months after the initial interview, study participants will be asked to complete a follow-up survey by either telephone or Internet/Web, depending on their preference. These telephone surveys will last between 15-30 minutes.

Official Title
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A Pilot Study of Working Women and Breast Cancer

Conditions
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Breast Cancer

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Women age 18-65 Working at least 20 hours per week Currently patients of the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center Are able to read, write, and communicate in English Have reliable telephone or Internet/Web access in or outside the home Exclusion Criteria: Self-employed Unemployed Cognitively impaired

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Working Poor Survivors<br>Low Wage workers | |
| Non-Working Poor Survivors<br>Higher-Wage Salary Workers | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Guideline concordant breast cancer treatment as defined by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology and oncologist assessments. | Differences in receipt of guideline-concordant breast cancer treatment between working poor and working non-poor survivors as explained by variations in occupation and work organization factors associated with each group of women. Guideline-concordant treatment will be informed by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology and oncologist assessments. | 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Breast cancer treatment adherence, including completion of prescribed chemotherapy regimens, prescribed radiation treatment regimen, and/or surgical follow-up appointments. | Differences in breast cancer treatment adherence rates between working poor and non-poor survivors as explained by variations in occupation and work organization factors associated with each group of women. | 6 months | 
| Satisfaction with breast cancer treatment decision-making | Differences in satisfaction with breast cancer treatment decision-making between working poor and working non-poor survivors as explained by variations in occupation and work organization factors associated with each group of women. | 6 months | 
| Quality of life | Differences in quality of life measures between working poor and working non-poor survivors explained by variations in occupation and work organization factors associated with each group of women. | 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Breast Cancer, Working Women