Project methodology

The project will use triangulation of methods and data, for assuring reliability and validity. It will use an exploratory, descriptive and cross-sectional approach.

For the first objective, we envisage four directions of study:

(a) to review the scientific literature on returning to work of cancer patients;

(b) to analyze relevant policies for returning to work of patients with chronic illnesses (including cancer) (method used: documentary analysis)

(c) to descriptively analyse study reports and databases on cancer and work in Romania (method: secondary analysis);

(d) to review the legal context of this problem in Romania (method: review of policies).

For the second objective, we aim to explore (by giving voice to people) the views regarding work after cancer of five categories of subjects:

• the employees which are cancer survivors and returned to work after cancer - semistructured interviews
• the employees which are cancer survivors and did not return to work after cancer - semistructured interviews
• the employers - semistructured interviews with public and private employers in Sibiu and Cluj areas
• the HR recruiters - semistructured interviews with representatives in the main HR recruiter companies (public and private) from Sibiu and Cluj area
• the health professionals - semistructured interviews with oncologists, occupational physicians, primary physicians, medical expertise physicians and psychologists

Purposive samples will be used, targeting for specific eligibility criteria in every category.

For the third objective, based on the data collected in the first two objectives, two synthetic documents will be draw:

• Synthetic document for organizations and HR recruiters with specific information about the context of the problem and recommendations they can use at work;
• Synthetic document addressed to policy makers, arguing why is important to have tailored policies for this category of chronically ill patients.

Both documents will be disseminated through the website, on paper and in a dissemination conference. The dissemination conference will also include a discussion with employers’ representatives and recruiters about cancer and work, based on the project results, which will take the form of community participation and empowerment.