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. 2020 Oct;13(5):567-582.
doi: 10.1007/s40271-020-00427-6.

The Successful Return-To-Work Questionnaire for Cancer Survivors (I-RTW_CS): Development, Validity and Reproducibility

Michiel A Greidanus  1 , Angela G E M de Boer  2 , Angelique E de Rijk  3 , Sonja Brouwers  2 , Theo M de Reijke  4 , Marie José Kersten  5 , Jean H G Klinkenbijl  6   7 , Roy I Lalisang  8 , Robert Lindeboom  9 , Patricia J Zondervan  4 , Monique H W Frings-Dresen  2 , Sietske J Tamminga  2
Affiliations

The Successful Return-To-Work Questionnaire for Cancer Survivors (I-RTW_CS): Development, Validity and Reproducibility

Michiel A Greidanus et al. Patient. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Cancer survivors' perspectives on a successful return to work (RTW) may not be captured in the common measure of RTW, namely time until RTW.

Objective: The purpose of this study was therefore to develop an RTW outcome measure that reflects employed cancer survivors' perspectives, with items that could be influenced by an employer, i.e. the Successful Return-To-Work questionnaire for Cancer Survivors (I-RTW_CS), and to assess its construct validity and reproducibility.

Methods: First, three focus groups with cancer survivors (n = 14) were organized to generate issues that may constitute successful RTW. Second, a two-round Delphi study among 108 cancer survivors was conducted to select the most important issues. Construct validity of the I-RTW_CS was assessed using correlations with a single-item measure of successful RTW and the Quality of Working Life Questionnaire for Cancer Survivors (QWLQ-CS; n = 57). Reproducibility (test-retest reliability) was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC; n = 50).

Results: Forty-eight issues were generated, of which seven were included: 'enjoyment in work'; 'work without affecting health'; 'confidence of employer without assumptions about work ability'; 'open communication with employer'; 'feeling welcome at work'; 'good work-life balance'; and 'joint satisfaction with the situation (employer and cancer survivor)'. Correlations with single-item successful RTW and QWLQ-CS were 0.58 and 0.85, respectively. The reproducibility showed an ICC of 0.72.

Conclusions: The I-RTW_CS provides an RTW outcome measure that includes cancer survivors' perspectives and weights its items on an individual basis, allowing a more meaningful evaluation of cancer survivors' RTW. This study provides preliminary evidence for its construct validity and reproducibility.

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Conflict of interest statement

Michiel A. Greidanus, Angela G.E.M. De Boer, Angelique E. de Rijk, Sonja Brouwers, Theo M. de Reijke, Marie José Kersten, Jean H.G. Klinkenbijl, Roy I. Lalisang, Robert Lindeboom, Patricia J. Zondervan, Monique H.W. Frings-Dresen and Sietske J. Tamminga declare they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Methods and results, by objective. RTW return to work, ICC intraclass correlation coefficient, CI confidence interval, SEM standard error of measurement, SDC smallest detectable change, I-RTW_CS Successful Return-To-Work questionnaire for Cancer Survivors, QWLQ-CS Quality of Working Life Questionnaire for Cancer Survivors, NA not applicable
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The Bland–Altman plot. The means of the T0 (baseline) and T1 (2 weeks of follow-up) I-RTW_CS scores are shown on the x-axis, and the differences between the T0 and T1 I-RTW_CS scores are shown on the y-axis (T0–T1). The dotted line represents the mean difference between T0 and T1, and the solid lines represent the 95% LoA. I-RTW_CS Successful Return-To-Work questionnaire for Cancer Survivors
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