Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41793644›Full record

ReviewJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2026

Experiences of nurse cancer survivors returning to work: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis.

Yanping Sun, Hui Duan, Meicao Wang, Zhengjun Zhu, Zixuan Li, Yuhan Li, Zhonghua Hu, Yanli Zeng

Abstract readReview
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In one paragraph

Review in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yanping Sun *College of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1166 Liutai Road, Wenjiang DistrictSichuan Province, Chengdu, 611137, No, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-1184-2093
Hui Duan *Department of Nursing, Third People's Hospital, Chengdu, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-4530-3415
Meicao WangCollege of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1166 Liutai Road, Wenjiang DistrictSichuan Province, Chengdu, 611137, No, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-6996-6738
Zhengjun ZhuCollege of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1166 Liutai Road, Wenjiang DistrictSichuan Province, Chengdu, 611137, No, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-0442-3078
Zixuan LiCollege of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1166 Liutai Road, Wenjiang DistrictSichuan Province, Chengdu, 611137, No, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-9720-5222
Yuhan LiCollege of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1166 Liutai Road, Wenjiang DistrictSichuan Province, Chengdu, 611137, No, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-7569-8269
Zhonghua HuCollege of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1166 Liutai Road, Wenjiang DistrictSichuan Province, Chengdu, 611137, No, China. 19892017@cdutcm.edu.cn.
Yanli ZengCollege of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1166 Liutai Road, Wenjiang DistrictSichuan Province, Chengdu, 611137, No, China. zengyanli@cdutcm.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6015-6926

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo synthesise qualitative evidence on registered nurses' experiences of returning to work after completion of primary cancer treatment and entry into the survivorship or rehabilitation phase.

methodsTen databases were searched from inception to 8 August 2025, with an updated search conducted on 22 February 2026. The review followed Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for qualitative evidence synthesis and was reported in accordance with ENTREQ guidelines. Methodological quality was appraised using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. Data were synthesised thematically, and confidence in synthesised findings was assessed using the JBI ConQual approach.

resultsEight qualitative studies involving 96 nurse cancer survivors were included. Fifty-eight findings were synthesised into four overarching themes: (1) Emotional and Physical Journey, (2) Roles and Identities, (3) Professional Growth and Advocacy, and (4) Support and Work-Life Motivation. ConQual assessment indicated moderate confidence for three themes and low confidence for the Emotional and Physical Journey theme, reflecting limitations in methodological transparency and variability in evidentiary support.

conclusionsReturning to work after cancer represents a complex and ongoing transition for nurses, involving physical adjustment, emotional regulation, identity reconstruction, and professional adaptation. Reintegration appears shaped by individual coping processes and organisational contexts. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Findings suggest that flexible work arrangements, psychological support, and context-sensitive workplace practices may facilitate more sustainable return-to-work experiences among nurse cancer survivors.

Indexed as

Cancer survivorsMeta-synthesisNursesQualitative systematic reviewReturn to work

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.