Work

Return to work and work abandonment in female breast cancer survivors: systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Introduction Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy among women globally. Consequently, improved survival rates have shifted clinical focus towards long-term quality of life outcomes, particularly occupational rehabilitation. Return to work (RTW) is a crucial indicator of rehabilitation, though it is frequently hindered by treatment side effects, leading to significant economic and psychosocial impacts if women permanently withdraw from the workforce. Due to substantial heterogeneity in the literature regarding RTW assessment, this systematic review aims to synthesise the available evidence on RTW and work cessation rates and the identified predictors in women who are breast cancer survivors. Methods and analysis The proposed systematic review and meta-analysis will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. Electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Science Direct, Web of Science, LILACS and PsycINFO, will be systematically searched from inception. This research will exclusively include observational studies (case-control, cross-sectional and cohort studies) focusing on female breast cancer survivors and factors associated with return to or cessation of work. Interventional studies, specifically randomised controlled trials (RCTs), will be strictly excluded to ensure the synthesis reflects real-world clinical and occupational outcomes. Studies published in any language and from any publication year will be accepted, whereas non-peer-reviewed publications will be excluded. Data will be managed using the Review Manager software (RevMan 5.2.3). For dichotomous outcomes, we will extract or calculate OR along with their corresponding 95% CI. In case of heterogeneity, assessed using the I² statistic (I²) with values greater than 50%, a random-effects model will be used to combine the studies and calculate the OR and its corresponding 95% CI. Ethics and dissemination This study will review the published data; thus, obtaining ethical approval is unnecessary. The findings of this systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO registration number CRD420251186726.

Source: BMJ Open

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-117563