[The use of the permanent sample (eps) to study the returnto- work after cancer. Challenges and opportunities for research]. / Utilisation de l'échantillon permanent (eps) pour l'étude du retour au travail après cancer. Défis et opportunités pour la recherche.

INTRODUCTION: The introduction of early cancer detection and the improvement in treatment efficacy have led to a significant increase in the survival and the prevalence of (ex) cancer patients. Approximately 40 % of new cancer cases are diagnosed every year in the working age population (20-64 years). Maintaining their quality of life results, among others, in their retain on the labour market. Even though it is necessary to realize the scale of the phenomenon and to plan interventions, no measure allows assessing the rate of return to work among of (ex) cancer patients in Belgium nowadays. METHODS: We observe during a five-year period the socio-professional status (inability, disability, unemployment or death) of 645 workers identified in the permanent sample (EPS), having had an oncological multidisciplinary consultation (MOC) in 2011. RESULTS: By the end of follow-up, 24 % of the workers were deceased. Among those who survived 26 % are unable to work, 12 % are unemployed and 63 % do not receive any social benefit. Women and young workers (20-44 years) seemed to have encountered difficulties the most. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study allow giving a prudent first estimation of the return to work of socially insured Belgian citizens of almost 40 %, five years after the first MOC. Nevertheless, the structure of the EPS presents many limitations to the interpretation and reliability of results. We suggest some modifications of the EPS that might offer scientists better opportunities to improve the performance and reliability of such cohort studies.

INTRODUCTION: L'introduction de la détection précoce des cancers et l'amélioration de l'efficacité des traitements ont mené à une augmentation significative de la prévalence d'(ex) patients. A peu près 40 % des nouveaux cancers sont diagnostiqués chaque année dans la population active (20-64 ans). Le maintien de leur qualité de vie passe, notamment, par leur maintien sur le marché du travail. Bien que nécessaire pour évaluer l'ampleur du phénomène et planifier des interventions spécifiques, aucune mesure ne permet actuellement d'établir avec précision le taux de réinsertion professionnelle des travailleurs atteints de cancer en Belgique. Matériel et Méthodes : Nous observons durant cinq ans le statut socioprofessionnel (incapacité de travail, invalidité, chômage ou décès) de 645 travailleurs identifiés dans l'échantillon permanent (EPS) ayant eu une première consultation oncologique multidisciplinaire (COM) en 2011. Résultats : Au terme du suivi, 24 % des travailleurs sont décédés. Parmi les travailleurs ayant survécu, 26 % sont en incapacité de travail, 12 % sont au chômage et 63 % ne bénéficient d'aucun revenu de remplacement. Les femmes et les jeunes travailleurs (20-44 ans) semblent rencontrer le plus de difficultés pour le retour au travail. CONCLUSIONS: Les résultats de cette étude permettent d'avancer une première estimation du retour au travail des assurés sociaux belges atteints de cancer à un peu moins de 40 %, cinq ans après la première COM. Toutefois, la structure et les données de l'EPS présentent de nombreuses limites pour l'interprétation et la fiabilité des résultats. Nous suggérons quelques modifications des données de l'EPS qui offriront aux scientifiques des opportunités pour améliorer la réalisation et la fiabilité de telles études de cohorte.

Issues arising when crossing a border to give birth: an exploratory study on the French-Belgian border.

BACKGROUND: Anecdotal evidence suggests that many organised initiatives for cross-border collaboration in healthcare in border regions originate from the need for women to give birth close to home. Despite this, there is remarkably little research on these practices and the specific modes of collaboration between providers and experiences and needs of these women. In this paper we describe the experiences of French women who choose to give birth in Belgium. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 key informants and captured the experiences of 14 French mothers using a 40-item questionnaire. RESULTS: The chief motivations for French mothers to cross the border to deliver a baby in Belgium were geographical proximity as well as perceived better quality of care. Several procedural differences between France and Belgium were highlighted as possibly affecting the quality of follow-up care, including the absence, in some cases, of a contact person in France, and communication problems between providers. CONCLUSION: There is a tension between the testimony of patients who are clearly satisfied and evidence of problems in communication and weak collaboration between providers on either side of this cross border collaboration. This paradox requires more research efforts to generate clear evidence of the added value of these cross-border collaborations for patients.