Occupational Problems Identified by Cancer Survivors with Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI): a secondary data analysis

Purpose This study aimed to describe occupational problems faced by cancer survivors coping with CRCI. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted on 89 adults with CRCI recruited from a hospital-based outpatient cancer center. Participants completed the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and their reported occupational problems were categorized by area and sub-area. Comparisons were made across gender, time since last treatment and severity of subjective cognitive complaints. Results Participants identified 4.1 occupational problems on average. The majority were in the productivity (43%) and leisure (38%) areas. A statistically significant gender difference was observed [χ²(8) = 20.579, p = 0.008]. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups based on the time since treatment or severity of cognitive complaints. Conclusions Cancer survivors with CRCI commonly reported problems at work and social participation. While some gender-based differences were observed, most demographic and medical factors were not associated with distinct occupational problems patterns. Taken together, these findings highlight the variability of occupational problems among survivors with CRCI. This points to the value of person-centered assessments and rehabilitation interventions.