Cancer Res Treat.  2023 Apr;55(2):419-428. 10.4143/crt.2022.939.

Effectiveness of Self-Assessment, TAilored Information, and Lifestyle Management for Cancer Patients’ Returning to Work (START): A Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Trial

• Kang D
• Bae KR
• Ahn Y
• Kim N
• Nam SJ
• Lee JE
• Lee SK
• Shim YM
• Sinn DH
• Oh SY
• Chun M
• Heo J
• Cho J

• KMID: 2541229
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2022.939

Abstract

Purpose
We developed a comprehensive return to work (RTW) intervention covering physical, psycho-social and practical issues for patients newly diagnosed and evaluated its efficacy in terms of RTW.
Materials and Methods
A multi-center randomized controlled trial was done to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention conducted at two university-based cancer centers in Korea. The intervention program comprised educational material at diagnosis, a face-to-face educational session at completion of active treatment, and three individualized telephone counseling sessions. The control group received other education at enrollment.
Results
At 1-month post-intervention (T2), the intervention group was more likely to be working compared to the control group after controlling working status at diagnosis (65.4% vs. 55.9%, p=0.037). Among patients who did not work at baseline, the intervention group was 1.99-times more likely to be working at T2. The mean of knowledge score was higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (7.4 vs. 6.8, p=0.029). At the 1-year follow-up, the intervention group was 65% (95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 3.48) more likely to have higher odds for having work.
Conclusion
The intervention improved work-related knowledge and was effective in facilitating cancer patients’ RTW.

Keyword

Cancer survivors; Education; Randomized controlled trials; Return to work; Stigma

Figure

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  Fig. 1 CONSROT diagram. ICU, intensive care unit.

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  Fig. 2 Proportion of return to work.

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  Fig. 3 Subgroup analysis. CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio.

Reference

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