Impact of childhood cancer on parental employment and sources of income: A Canadian pilot study
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Mary L. McBride; Amanda K. Shaw; Heather Limburg
- Source
- Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 51:93-98
- Subject
- Pediatrics
medicine.medical_specialty
business.industry
Childhood cancer
Age at diagnosis
Cancer
Hematology
Disease
medicine.disease
Blood cancer
Oncology
Social assistance
Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
medicine
Salary
business
Demography
- Language
- ISSN
- 1545-5009
Background Loss of income and out of pocket expenses related to childhood cancer care can account for over 25% of a family's total disposable income, adding to the stress of facing a life-threatening disease. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the impact of childhood cancer on employment and sources of income within families. Procedure A retrospective postal-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from parents of children diagnosed with cancer before 20 years of age between 1990 and 1996 in the province of British Columbia (n = 111). Results Among full or part-time employed parents, 64% of mothers and 16% of fathers left their job after their child's diagnosis. The large majority of parents who left their jobs were away for less than 1 year (65% of mothers; 78% of fathers) and nearly all were able to return to the same job if they chose to do so (80% of mothers; 89% of fathers). Parents with children