This section offers suggestions related to helping a student deal with bullying in schools, as well as creating an environment where that individual can easily return to the school community. It also mentions the significance of the method 'Shared Responsibility' in dealing with the situation.

Assessing the Impact

Objective: This paper aims to systematically review the use and performance of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ).Design: Electronic databases were searched for papers administering the Brief IPQ published in peer-reviewed journals. Data were extracted from the results for meta-analysis.Main outcome measures: Use by illness population, country, language and study design. The questionnaire’s concurrent validity, predictive validity, sensitivity to change, discriminant validity and mean scores for different populations were summarised.Results: The review included 188 papers. The Brief IPQ has been administered to patients from age 8 to over 80, with a wide range of illnesses, in 26 languages from 36 countries. Pooled correlations between illness perceptions and depression, anxiety, blood glucose levels and quality of life were consistent with previous research and theory (range .25–.49 for consequences, identity and emotional representations; −.12 to −.27 for personal control). All items...

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire

Purpose of reviewIn this article we summarize recent investigations into the influence of illness perceptions on outcomes in patients with medical conditions.Recent findingsDevelopments in assessment include the publishing of a new brief scale to assess illness perceptions and the examination of the

The role of illness perceptions in patients with medical conditions

Further development of an illness perception intervention for myocardial infarction patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Health literacy

Illness perceptions predict attendance at cardiac rehabilitation following acute myocardial infarction: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Objective: any factors influence return to work (RTW) following cancer treatment. However specific factors affecting RTW across different cancer types are unclear. This study examined the role of clinical, sociodemographic, work and psychological factors in RTW following treatment for breast, gynaecological, head and neck, and urological cancer. Methods: a 12-month prospective questionnaire study was conducted with 290 patients. Cox regression analyses were conducted to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for time to RTW. Results: between 89–94% of cancer survivors returned to work. Breast cancer survivors took the longest to return (median 30?weeks), and urology cancer survivors returned the soonest (median 5?weeks). Earlier return among breast cancer survivors was predicted by a greater sense of control over their cancer at work (HR 1.2; 95% CI: 1.09–1.37) and by full-time work (HR 2.1; CI: 1.24–3.4). Predictive of a longer return among gynaecological cancer survivors was a belief that cancer treatment may impair ability to work (HR 0.75; CI: 0.62–0.91). Among urological cancer survivors constipation was predictive of longer RTW (HR 0.99; CI: 0.97–1.00), whereas undertaking flexible working was predictive of returning sooner (HR 1.70; CI: 1.07–2.7). Head and neck cancer survivors who perceived greater negative consequences of their cancer took longer to return (HR 0.27; CI: 0.11–0.68). Those reporting better physical functioning returned sooner (HR1.04; CI: 1.01–1.08). Conclusion: a different profile of predictive factors emerged for the four cancer types. In addition to optimal symptom management and workplace adaptations, the findings suggest that eliciting and challenging specific cancer and treatment-related perceptions may facilitate RTW

Distinct work-related, clinical and psychological factors predict return to work following treatment in four different cancer types.

Background Earlier diagnosis and improvements in treatment survival rates have led to an increase in the number of cancer survivors for whom returning to work is a realistic outcome. However, cancer survivors face a number of challenges when returning to the workplace. Little is known about how patients' illness and treatment beliefs affect return to work or of employers' beliefs about the impact of cancer on work. Aims To determine patient and employers' beliefs about the impact of cancer on returning to work and to identify differences in the beliefs held by patients and employers. Methods Patients absent from work due to breast, urological, gynaecological or head and neck cancers completed a questionnaire within 4 weeks of completing treatment. Unlinked employer respondents from medium to large organizations completed the same questionnaire. The questionnaire focused on the perceived impact of cancer and its treatment on work and an adapted version of the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire. Results One hundred and ninety four patients (response rate of 82%) and 252 employers (response rate 31 %) completed the questionnaire. Organizational respondents consistently reported more negative beliefs about the impact of cancer and treatment on work and in general held more negative illness perceptions about cancer in relation to work. Conclusions A discrepancy between beliefs of organizational respondents and cancer survivors could impact on an employees' management of their work and on employers' responsiveness to the needs of survivors. Therefore, it is important that return to work plans include the elicitation of employee beliefs.

Cancer survivors' and employers' perceptions of working following cancer treatment

Objective: For many survivors of prostate cancer, returning to work posttreatment is a realistic goal. However, little research to date has explored work among prostate cancer survivors. The focus of this study was to explore the meaning of work among prostate cancer survivors and to describe the linkages between masculinity and work following prostate cancer treatment. Method: Fifty prostate cancer survivors who were in paid employment prior to their diagnosis completed a semistructured interview following completion of their treatment and of these, 41 also completed a 12-month follow-up interview. Framework analysis of the 91 transcripts was undertaken. Results: The majority of the men had returned to work at the 12-month interview. Four themes were identified, and these were labeled “Work and self-identity,” “Work-related implications of treatment side effects,” “Disclosure of cancer,” and “Perceptions of future as a cancer survivor.” A degree of embarrassment and concern about residual side effects and whether these would present a challenge within the workplace was apparent among our sample and was compounded by a reluctance to disclose these. Conclusions: The descriptions provided by the men in this study reveal that the experience of prostate cancer can lead to challenges for both social and work-related roles. The influence of prostate cancer on men's reports of masculinity was variable, and recognition of these differences is required. In addition, some survivors of prostate cancer may require specific interventions aimed at helping them to manage disclosure of their illness, particularly within a work environment.

"The only way I know how to live is to work": a qualitative study of work following treatment for prostate cancer.

Objective: There are an increasing number of gynaecological cancer survivors for whom returning to work is a realistic outcome. There is little research to date specifically examining the return to work experience of survivors of gynaecological cancers. The aim of this study was to explore gynaecological cancer survivors' experience of work over a 1-year period post-treatment.

Methods: A total of 55 gynaecological cancer survivors completed a semi-structured interview following completion of their treatment and of these 36 also completed a follow-up interview 12 months later. In total, 91 interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Framework analysis of the transcripts was undertaken.

Results: Three super-ordinate themes were identified and these were labelled ‘Meaning of work’, ‘Disclosure of cancer diagnosis’ and ‘Readjustment’. Overall, there were few changes in working patterns between the two interview points with the majority of women returning to the same role. Although a desire to make work-related changes was expressed at baseline, few women had initiated such changes 1-year post-treatment.

Conclusions: Employees may experience difficulties due to residual symptoms, such as continuing fatigue, or as a result of unrealistic expectations about returning to full employment soon after treatment has completed. The results highlight the need for an intervention to support gynaecological cancer survivors to cope with long-term residual symptoms and manage expectations about returning to work. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Alethea Cooper

Papers

Illness perceptions predict attendance at cardiac rehabilitation following acute myocardial infarction: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Distinct work-related, clinical and psychological factors predict return to work following treatment in four different cancer types.

Cancer survivors' and employers' perceptions of working following cancer treatment

"The only way I know how to live is to work": a qualitative study of work following treatment for prostate cancer.

A longitudinal qualitative study of the experience of working following treatment for gynaecological cancer.