Papers by Adela E L E N A Popa
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 2019
Purpose Evidence shows that employers play a key role in facilitating the return to work of emplo... more Purpose Evidence shows that employers play a key role in facilitating the return to work of employees with cancer, yet little is known about the employers' experiences in settings where no policies or regulations are available to guide this process. Against this background, we aimed (1) to understand how employers experience and manage the process of having employees with cancer and (2) to explore their reflections regarding their role in returning to work. Methods Twenty employers from various types of organisations and sectors were interviewed. Inductive thematic analysis was performed using NVivo 11. Results Employers experienced having employees with cancer as a process with three distinct phases reflected in three emerging themes: disclosure of the diagnosis and absence from work; returning to work; post-returning to work. A fourth theme emphasizes the employers' reflections on how they conceive their own role. In the absence of a normative framework for dealing with employees with cancer, employers used commonsensical rules of thumb and immediate solutions based on ad-hoc decisions and were often compelled to innovate. They offered accommodations only if requested by the employee after returning to work. The return to work process was neither planned nor phased. Conclusion Employers need information and guidelines for effectively assisting employees with cancer. Better channels of communication and collaboration with health professionals are essential for more adequate support for the long-term consequences of cancer. A detailed return to work policy is required to tackle the inconsistencies in the support offered and this policy must also rethink how diagnosis disclosure takes place in Romanian organisations.
Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 2020
Purpose This study explored employer's perspectives on (1) their experience of good practice rela... more Purpose This study explored employer's perspectives on (1) their experience of good practice related to workers diagnosed with cancer and their return to work (RTW), and (2) their perceived needs necessary to achieve good practice as reported by employers from nine separate countries. Methods Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were held in eight European countries and Israel with two to three employers typically including HR managers or line managers from both profit and non-profit organisations of different sizes and sectors. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. A grounded theory/thematic analysis approach was completed. Results Employers' experience with RTW assistance for workers with cancer appears to be a dynamic process. Results indicate that good practice includes six phases: (1) reacting to disclosure, (2) collecting information, (3) decision-making related to initial actions, (4) remaining in touch, (5) decision-making on RTW, and (6) follow-up. The exact details of the process are shaped by country, employer type, and worker characteristics; however, there was consistency related to the need for (1) structured procedures, (2) collaboration, (3) communication skills training, (4) information on cancer, and (5) financial resources for realizing RTW support measures. Conclusions Notwithstanding variations at country, employer, and worker levels, the employers from all nine countries reported that good practice regarding RTW assistance in workers with a history of cancer consists of the six phases above. Employers indicate that they would benefit from shared collaboration and resources that support good practice for this human resource matter. Implications for cancer survivors Further research and development based on the six phases of employer support as a framework for a tool or strategy to support workers with a history of cancer across countries and organisations is warranted.
Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 2020
Purpose
Almost half of people diagnosed with cancer are working age. Survivors have increased ris... more Purpose
Almost half of people diagnosed with cancer are working age. Survivors have increased risk of unemployment, but little is known about long-term work retention. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed work retention and associated factors in long-term cancer survivors.
Methods
We searched Medline/Pubmed, Embase, PsychINFO, and CINAHL for studies published 01/01/2000–08/01/2019 reporting work retention in adult cancer survivors ≥ 2 years post-diagnosis. Survivors had to be in paid work at diagnosis. Pooled prevalence of long-term work retention was estimated. Factors associated with work retention from multivariate analysis were synthesized.
Results
Twenty-nine articles, reporting 21 studies/datasets including 14,207 cancer survivors, were eligible. Work retention was assessed 2–14 years post-diagnosis. Fourteen studies were cross-sectional, five were prospective, and two contained both cross-sectional and prospective elements. No studies were scored as high quality. The pooled estimate of prevalence of long-term work retention in cancer survivors working at diagnosis was 0.73 (95%CI 0.69–0.77). The proportion working at 2–2.9 years was 0.72; at 3–3.9 years 0.80; at 4–4.9 years 0.75; at 5–5.9 years 0.74; and 6+ years 0.65. Pooled estimates did not differ by cancer site, geographical area, or study design. Seven studies assessed prognostic factors for work retention: older age, receiving chemotherapy, negative health outcomes, and lack of work adjustments were associated with not working.
Conclusion
Almost three-quarters of long-term cancer survivors working at diagnosis retain work.
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2018
Disability and Rehabilitation , 2019
Purpose: Over the last several years, the number of working-age patients with cancer in Europe an... more Purpose: Over the last several years, the number of working-age patients with cancer in Europe and
Romania has consistently increased. Considerable efforts are made to bring cancer survivors back to the
workforce, generating remarkable individual and societal benefits. Legislation and policies are essential
factors in achieving this goal. The aim of the present article is to analyze the Romanian statutory policies
for returning to work after cancer.
Methods: A comprehensive search using key terms was carried out on the websites of the Ministry of
Labor and Ministry of Health and also within the Romanian Official Gazette, which is the official national
paper-based repository of legal documents. Nine work-related policy documents were found, and recurrent
themes were identified. Within these themes, the authors synthetized the information on provisions,
actors, structures, processes and responsibilities.
Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) General and cancer-specific provisions; (2) The cancer
survivor’s journey in relation to work; and (3) Work adjustments. The policies contain no measures for
incentivising return to work. The mechanisms for collaboration and coordination among stakeholders are
not described in the policies.
Conclusions: The current policies put an emphasis on compensation but fail to encompass activation
measures. Considering that, for several components of the return to work process, the general principles
are already stated in the law, it is vital to further develop the policies in the sense of specifying the procedures,
roles and responsibilities for the stakeholders involved.
Journal of Cancer Policy, 2017
The incidence and mortality due to malignancies are increasing in Romania. Since 2001, Romania pr... more The incidence and mortality due to malignancies are increasing in Romania. Since 2001, Romania provides the public support for cancer patients through the National Programme for Cancer (NPC). Using documentary analysis, the present paper provides a longitudinal and comprehensive examination of all the policy documents issued during 2001 and 2016 within the programme, and of the five implementation reports available. The paper examines several press articles as a sole source for exploring implementation difficulties.
Results show that current cancer policies in Romania are focusing on treatment and screening, less on prevention, surveillance, research and rehabilitation and not at all on palliative care. Despite the NPC development in the period considered, substantial difficulties hinder the achievement of the full potential of the programme. The analysis reveals an erratic vision underpinning the cancer programme and a complete lack of objective measures of the NPC results. Four lessons are derived from this analysis and can inform cancer policies in similar national contexts: the implementation of cancer registries for a better planning of cancer policies, involving other actors (such as NGOs) in the fight against cancer, the necessity for having objective assessments of the status of policy implementation and the need to include measures of palliation in the future policies.
Journal of Community Positive Practices, 2016
The burden of cancer is increasingly affecting patients in all European countries. The paper draw... more The burden of cancer is increasingly affecting patients in all European countries. The paper draws a landscape of the Romanian non-profit sector involved in tackling cancer. A descriptive analysis was done on two databases (the national registries of associations and foundations in Romania), for delineating the extent and the type of the NGOs’ involvement in the cancer fight. Results show a cancer civil society still in its infancy stage, displaying an imbalanced situation in terms of goals’ orientation and territorial distribution. Financially helping patients is a prevailing orientation, whilst there is not enough focus on prevention, education, rehabilitation and palliation. The paper raises concern for policy-makers to include NGOs as partners in national-cancer control programmes.
Social Change Review, 2014
The study aims to address two areas regarding preschool education: the participation of preschool... more The study aims to address two areas regarding preschool education: the participation of preschool practitioners in professional groups and communities and the views and understandings they hold on the ‘professional community’ concept. A survey was completed by teachers and specialists working with preschool children in all kindergartens of Sibiu (N=308) in July 2011. A quantitative and qualitative approach of the data was used, for processing a part of the survey’s items. Results show a high participation of practitioners in professional groups within their own institution, but less implication in national or international groups and communities. The respondents’ views on professional community show a basic understanding of it, as a place for interaction and communication in order to get support and advice when needed. Several practical implications are drawn after discussing the results.
The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Apr 2013
In the summer of 2010, Romania undertook a process of hospital decentralisation as part of the re... more In the summer of 2010, Romania undertook a process of hospital decentralisation as part of the reform in the healthcare sector. The national newsprint media covered the process thoroughly. This paper is a study of how key stakeholders' views, attitudes, beliefs and attitudes towards decentralisation are represented in print media. 106 articles, published between June and September 2010, retrieved from the online databases of six leading national dailies were analysed. A mixed methodology was used in the data analysis stage. The qualitative data exploration identified five voices belonging to stakeholders involved directly or indirectly in the process: the representatives of central government, the local authorities (district and local councils, municipal mayors), health professionals (managers and physicians in hospitals), the media (journalists, analysts) and finally voices from civil society, professional associations and advocacy groups. These were the main actors negotiating the subjective meanings of the decentralisation process. An imbalance between these key actors were observed in the frequency, content and tone of the messages delivered in media during the four months. Central government and the local authorities were the most active voices, but the respective discourses differed significantly. An analysis of the accounts identified three main themes: the financial problem (hospitals liabilities and future spending), human resource in hospitals (the impact of decentralisation upon it) and the political character of the decentralisation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Economic, social and administrative approaches to the knowledge-based organization. Conference Proceedings 2, 2012
Przegląd Badań Edukacyjnych, 2012
Revista de Asistenţă Socială, 2012
Sociologie Românească, 2010
Page 1. Popa 2/2010 Sâmbătă, 26 Februarie 2011 09:37 Adela Elena Popa Comunitatea rurală din pers... more Page 1. Popa 2/2010 Sâmbătă, 26 Februarie 2011 09:37 Adela Elena Popa Comunitatea rurală din perspectiva locuitorilor ei şi a administraţiei locale Sociologie Românească Vol. VIII, nr. 2/2010, pp. 58-77. Cuvinte-cheie: comunitate ...
Other by Adela E L E N A Popa
A substantial proportion of chronically ill patients in Europe are of working age. Among the chro... more A substantial proportion of chronically ill patients in Europe are of working age. Among the chronic diseases, cancer is the most devastating, putting a considerable social and economic burden on patients. The cancer survivorship trend significantly grew in the last 10–20 years, therefore the problem of the cancer-ill workforce became more and more a concern for employers, workforce agencies and governments to consider. In a similar way, the growing population suffering from chronic diseases demands not only diagnosing and treatment services, but also provision related to rehabilitation, training and counselling, as well as adequate policies reflecting its needs. Several European countries have already begun to address this problem by designing and implementing a bundle of policies, measures and initiatives, either public or private, at national or local level. Several other countries (including Romania) are still struggling with meeting the basic needs of cancer and chronically ill patients. Both the level of awareness regarding the work related consequences of cancer and chronic illness, and the range of provision, greatly vary in different European countries and can be subject of analysis. The panel will welcome papers analysing the consequences cancer and other chronic diseases have on work and what exists in terms of policies and services in different national settings. Papers analysing the personal experiences of those who suffer and choose to return to work are also welcomed. The analyses could focus on the government or non-government (NGOs) perspective, or take into consideration the viewpoint of other stakeholders involved, e.g. physicians, employers, etc. Both theoretical and empirical papers, as well as quantitative and qualitative can be presented.
Books by Adela E L E N A Popa
Volumul este scris ușor, într-un limbaj accesibil aproape oricui, dar atacă teme importante pentr... more Volumul este scris ușor, într-un limbaj accesibil aproape oricui, dar atacă teme importante pentru știință și societate.
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Papers by Adela E L E N A Popa
Almost half of people diagnosed with cancer are working age. Survivors have increased risk of unemployment, but little is known about long-term work retention. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed work retention and associated factors in long-term cancer survivors.
Methods
We searched Medline/Pubmed, Embase, PsychINFO, and CINAHL for studies published 01/01/2000–08/01/2019 reporting work retention in adult cancer survivors ≥ 2 years post-diagnosis. Survivors had to be in paid work at diagnosis. Pooled prevalence of long-term work retention was estimated. Factors associated with work retention from multivariate analysis were synthesized.
Results
Twenty-nine articles, reporting 21 studies/datasets including 14,207 cancer survivors, were eligible. Work retention was assessed 2–14 years post-diagnosis. Fourteen studies were cross-sectional, five were prospective, and two contained both cross-sectional and prospective elements. No studies were scored as high quality. The pooled estimate of prevalence of long-term work retention in cancer survivors working at diagnosis was 0.73 (95%CI 0.69–0.77). The proportion working at 2–2.9 years was 0.72; at 3–3.9 years 0.80; at 4–4.9 years 0.75; at 5–5.9 years 0.74; and 6+ years 0.65. Pooled estimates did not differ by cancer site, geographical area, or study design. Seven studies assessed prognostic factors for work retention: older age, receiving chemotherapy, negative health outcomes, and lack of work adjustments were associated with not working.
Conclusion
Almost three-quarters of long-term cancer survivors working at diagnosis retain work.
Romania has consistently increased. Considerable efforts are made to bring cancer survivors back to the
workforce, generating remarkable individual and societal benefits. Legislation and policies are essential
factors in achieving this goal. The aim of the present article is to analyze the Romanian statutory policies
for returning to work after cancer.
Methods: A comprehensive search using key terms was carried out on the websites of the Ministry of
Labor and Ministry of Health and also within the Romanian Official Gazette, which is the official national
paper-based repository of legal documents. Nine work-related policy documents were found, and recurrent
themes were identified. Within these themes, the authors synthetized the information on provisions,
actors, structures, processes and responsibilities.
Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) General and cancer-specific provisions; (2) The cancer
survivor’s journey in relation to work; and (3) Work adjustments. The policies contain no measures for
incentivising return to work. The mechanisms for collaboration and coordination among stakeholders are
not described in the policies.
Conclusions: The current policies put an emphasis on compensation but fail to encompass activation
measures. Considering that, for several components of the return to work process, the general principles
are already stated in the law, it is vital to further develop the policies in the sense of specifying the procedures,
roles and responsibilities for the stakeholders involved.
Results show that current cancer policies in Romania are focusing on treatment and screening, less on prevention, surveillance, research and rehabilitation and not at all on palliative care. Despite the NPC development in the period considered, substantial difficulties hinder the achievement of the full potential of the programme. The analysis reveals an erratic vision underpinning the cancer programme and a complete lack of objective measures of the NPC results. Four lessons are derived from this analysis and can inform cancer policies in similar national contexts: the implementation of cancer registries for a better planning of cancer policies, involving other actors (such as NGOs) in the fight against cancer, the necessity for having objective assessments of the status of policy implementation and the need to include measures of palliation in the future policies.
Other by Adela E L E N A Popa
Books by Adela E L E N A Popa
Almost half of people diagnosed with cancer are working age. Survivors have increased risk of unemployment, but little is known about long-term work retention. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed work retention and associated factors in long-term cancer survivors.
Methods
We searched Medline/Pubmed, Embase, PsychINFO, and CINAHL for studies published 01/01/2000–08/01/2019 reporting work retention in adult cancer survivors ≥ 2 years post-diagnosis. Survivors had to be in paid work at diagnosis. Pooled prevalence of long-term work retention was estimated. Factors associated with work retention from multivariate analysis were synthesized.
Results
Twenty-nine articles, reporting 21 studies/datasets including 14,207 cancer survivors, were eligible. Work retention was assessed 2–14 years post-diagnosis. Fourteen studies were cross-sectional, five were prospective, and two contained both cross-sectional and prospective elements. No studies were scored as high quality. The pooled estimate of prevalence of long-term work retention in cancer survivors working at diagnosis was 0.73 (95%CI 0.69–0.77). The proportion working at 2–2.9 years was 0.72; at 3–3.9 years 0.80; at 4–4.9 years 0.75; at 5–5.9 years 0.74; and 6+ years 0.65. Pooled estimates did not differ by cancer site, geographical area, or study design. Seven studies assessed prognostic factors for work retention: older age, receiving chemotherapy, negative health outcomes, and lack of work adjustments were associated with not working.
Conclusion
Almost three-quarters of long-term cancer survivors working at diagnosis retain work.
Romania has consistently increased. Considerable efforts are made to bring cancer survivors back to the
workforce, generating remarkable individual and societal benefits. Legislation and policies are essential
factors in achieving this goal. The aim of the present article is to analyze the Romanian statutory policies
for returning to work after cancer.
Methods: A comprehensive search using key terms was carried out on the websites of the Ministry of
Labor and Ministry of Health and also within the Romanian Official Gazette, which is the official national
paper-based repository of legal documents. Nine work-related policy documents were found, and recurrent
themes were identified. Within these themes, the authors synthetized the information on provisions,
actors, structures, processes and responsibilities.
Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) General and cancer-specific provisions; (2) The cancer
survivor’s journey in relation to work; and (3) Work adjustments. The policies contain no measures for
incentivising return to work. The mechanisms for collaboration and coordination among stakeholders are
not described in the policies.
Conclusions: The current policies put an emphasis on compensation but fail to encompass activation
measures. Considering that, for several components of the return to work process, the general principles
are already stated in the law, it is vital to further develop the policies in the sense of specifying the procedures,
roles and responsibilities for the stakeholders involved.
Results show that current cancer policies in Romania are focusing on treatment and screening, less on prevention, surveillance, research and rehabilitation and not at all on palliative care. Despite the NPC development in the period considered, substantial difficulties hinder the achievement of the full potential of the programme. The analysis reveals an erratic vision underpinning the cancer programme and a complete lack of objective measures of the NPC results. Four lessons are derived from this analysis and can inform cancer policies in similar national contexts: the implementation of cancer registries for a better planning of cancer policies, involving other actors (such as NGOs) in the fight against cancer, the necessity for having objective assessments of the status of policy implementation and the need to include measures of palliation in the future policies.