Reformulating the Worker Identity: Men’s Experiences After Radical Prostatectomy

• Published in: Qualitative health research Vol. 30; no. 8; pp. 1225 - 1236
• Main Authors: Yu Ko, Wellam F., Oliffe, John L., Johnson, Joy L., Bottorff, Joan L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-07-2020; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Cancer; Cancer surgery; Grounded theory; Health technology assessment; Identity; Masculinity; Men; Mens health; Prostate; Prostate cancer; Qualitative research; Return to work; Side effects; Social identity; Substantive theory; Urological surgery; Workforce; Canada; Canada; prostate cancer; radical prostatectomy; men’s health; return to work; qualitative; work; grounded theory; employment; masculinities
• ISSN: 1049-7323; 1552-7557
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732318825150

The number of men in the Canadian workforce who have prostate cancer is increasing. The purpose of the study was to explore the processes involved in men’s return to work post radical prostatectomy and understand how these events are connected to masculinities. Drawing on data collected through individual interviews with 24 participants, constructivist grounded theory method was used to develop the substantive theory of Reformulating the Worker Identity which comprises two processes, recovering after radical prostatectomy and renegotiating work expectations. Recovering after radical prostatectomy revealed how men overcame side effects at home and evaluated their potential for returning to work. Renegotiating work expectations included participant’s strategies for securing graduated return to work accommodations. Study findings revealed that the challenges for fully returning to work post prostatectomy are often underestimated by clinicians and patients. In this context, preempting return to work challenges preoperatively might allay significant anxieties for many men.