[Support for a balance between work schedules and treatment regimens among workers with illness: A questionnaire survey focusing on company size in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan].

Objectives: The support from businesses to create a balance between work schedules and treatment regimens among employees suffering from illnesses, such as cancer and diabetes, seems to be insufficient. This study aimed to investigate efforts of businesses to support the balance of work schedules and treatment regimens among employees with illness, focusing on company size and to identify potential workplace improvements for such employees.

Methods: Overall, 789 businesses in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan were randomly selected from a workplace list of the Wakayama Occupational Health Support Center. Anonymous questionnaires were distributed by mail. The questionnaires consisted of question items on workplace, current employees who had suffered or were suffering from cancer (employees with cancer), employees with illnesses (diseases such as cancer and diabetes), and support for businesses and employees.

Results: Questionnaires with complete responses were collected from 187 businesses (response rate: 23.7%). The ratios of businesses where employees with cancer were engaged or had been engaged were 43.4% for small-sized (less than 50 employees), 70.9% for medium-sized (50-99 employees), and 83.1% for large-sized (100 and more employees) businesses. In all business sizes, the most common support in reinstatement or hiring employees with cancer was "absenteeism for treatment." The most common difficulty that occurred in the workplace due to the presence of employees with cancer was "the insufficient number of workers." The information from the attending physician, etc. necessary for deciding the reinstatement was mostly "the current health condition and physical strength." Additionally, in all business sizes, the most common support for employees with illness to balance work schedule and treatment regimens was "considering measures suitable to the situation such as hospital visits and physical condition." The most common challenge was "securing alternative personnel." The information from the attending physician, etc. necessary for deciding the reinstatement was "the current health condition and physical strength," similar to that for employees with cancer. More than 60% of the businesses of varying sizes reported being unaware of the work-treatment balance support coordinator.

Conclusions: Considering measures suitable to the situation, such as hospital visits and physical condition, securing alternative personnel, and actively disseminating information regarding work-treatment balance support coordinators are recommended as workplace improvements for employees with illnesses.