Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 Dec;22(4):565-78.
doi: 10.1007/s10926-012-9372-2.

A hospital-based work support intervention to enhance the return to work of cancer patients: a process evaluation

S J Tamminga  1 , A G E M de Boer, M M E M Bos, G Fons, J J E M Kitzen, P W Plaisier, J H A M Verbeek, M H W Frings-Dresen
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A hospital-based work support intervention to enhance the return to work of cancer patients: a process evaluation

S J Tamminga et al. J Occup Rehabil. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: To perform a process evaluation of a hospital-based work support intervention for cancer patients aimed at enhancing return to work and quality of life. The intervention involves the delivery of patient education and support at the hospital and involves the improvement of the communication between the treating physician and the occupational physician. In addition, the research team asked patient's occupational physician to organise a meeting with the patient and the supervisor to make a concrete gradual return-to-work plan.

Methods: Eligible were cancer patients treated with curative intent and who have paid work. Data were collected from patients assigned to the intervention group (N = 65) and from nurses who delivered the patient education and support at the hospital (N = 4) by means of questionnaires, nurses' reports, and checklists. Data were quantitatively and qualitatively analysed.

Results: A total of 47 % of all eligible patients participated. Nurses delivered the patient education and support in 85 % of the cases according to the protocol. In 100 % of the cases at least one letter was sent to the occupational physician. In 10 % of the cases the meeting with the patient, the occupational physician and the supervisor took place. Patients found the intervention in general very useful and nurses found the intervention feasible to deliver.

Conclusions: We found that a hospital- based work support intervention was easily accepted in usual psycho-oncological care but that it proved difficult to involve the occupational physician. Patients were highly satisfied and nurses found the intervention feasible.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Process indicators. Legend: Grey denotes intervention delivery
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Recruitment and reach. CG control group, IG intervention group. 1 Based on three departments (A, C, E)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Peteet JR. Cancer and the meaning of work. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2000;22:200–205. doi: 10.1016/S0163-8343(00)00076-1. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Syse A, Tretli S, Kravdal O. Cancer’s impact on employment and earnings—a population-based study from Norway. J Cancer Surviv. 2008;2:149–158. doi: 10.1007/s11764-008-0053-2. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Mols F, Vingerhoets AJ, Coebergh JW, van de Poll-Franse LV. Quality of life among long-term breast cancer survivors: a systematic review. Eur J Cancer. 2005;41:2613–2619. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2005.05.017. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Mols F, Thong MS, Vreugdenhil G, van de Poll-Franse LV. Long-term cancer survivors experience work changes after diagnosis: results of a population-based study. Psychooncology. 2009;18:1252–1260. doi: 10.1002/pon.1522. - DOI - PubMed
    1. De Boer A, Taskila T, Ojajärvi A, van Dijk F, Verbeek J. Cancer survivors and unemployment—a meta-analysis and meta-regression. JAMA. 2009;301:753–762. doi: 10.1001/jama.2009.187. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources