Occupational Status and Hematological Disease

Diseases do not only have a physical role in people's live, but they usually involve changes in life as whole. They may modify the structure of the conjunction with life setting, thus, deeply impacting relationships with others. While clinical results of new therapies for hematological diseases are well documented in scientific literature in terms of prolonged life expectancy or remission from disease, less is known about problems and barriers preventing the return of patients with a chronic blood ailment to everyday life. Indeed, there are no published data on this topic within the Italian context. The present explorative study aims at identifying the main problems with which patients affected by a Chronic Hematological Disease (CHD) deal when returning to everyday working life, factors associated with work reintegration and, finally, to understand the need for facilitators enhancing reintegration outcomes. Results from this study will be also helpful to raise consciousness about the problem of reintegration into the labour market of workers with CHD and to call for awareness campaigns for the general public and health professionals.