Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

LIVE: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

Quality sleep is essential for health. But what happens to our brains when sleep patterns are disturbed? Join our experts to explore the interplay between sleep disruption and neurological diseases, and the questions that you need to be asking your patients to help you prevent the harmful effects of sleep deprivation.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Study protocol

Municipal return to work management in cancer survivors undergoing cancer treatment: a protocol on a controlled intervention study

Authors: Christina M. Stapelfeldt, Merete Labriola, Anders Bonde Jensen, Niels Trolle Andersen, Anne-Mette H. Momsen, Claus Vinther Nielsen

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Cancer survivors are often left on their own to deal with the challenges of resuming work during or after cancer treatment, mainly due to unclear agreements between stakeholders responsible for occupational rehabilitation. Social inequality exists in cancer risk, survival probability and continues with regard to the chance of being able to return to work.
The aim is to apply an early, individually tailored occupational rehabilitation intervention to cancer survivors in two municipalities parallel with cancer treatment focusing on enhancing readiness for return to work.

Methods/Design

In a controlled trial municipal job consultants use acceptance and commitment therapy dialogue and individual-placement-and-support-inspired tools with cancer survivors to engage them in behaviour changes toward readiness for return to work. The workplace is involved in the return to work process.
Patients referred to surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy at the Oncology Department, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark for the diagnoses; breast, colon-rectal, head and neck, thyroid gland, testicular, ovarian or cervix cancer are eligible for the study. Patients must be residents in the municipalities of Silkeborg or Randers, 18–60 years of age and have a permanent or temporary employment (with at least 6 months left of their contract) at inclusion. Patients, for whom the treating physician considers occupational rehabilitation to be unethical, or who are not reading or talking Danish are excluded. The control group has identical inclusion and exclusion criteria except for municipality of residence.
Return to work is the primary outcome and is indentified in a social transfer payment register. Effect is assessed as relative cumulative incidences within 52 weeks and will be analysed in generalised linear regression models using the pseudo values method. As a secondary outcome; co-morbidity and socio-economic status is analysed as effect modifiers of the intervention effect on return to work.

Discussion

The innovative element of this intervention is the timing of the occupational rehabilitation which is much earlier initiated than usual and the active involvement of the workplace. We anticipate that vulnerable cancer survivors will benefit from this approach and reduce the effects of social inequality on workability.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN50753764. Registered August 21st, 2014.
Literature
1.
2.
Mehnert A, de Boer A, Feuerstein M. Employment challenges for cancer survivors. Cancer. 2013;119 Suppl 11:2151–9.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Mehnert A, Koch U. Predictors of employment among cancer survivors after medical rehabilitation--a prospective study. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2013;39(1795–990; 1):76–87.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Kennedy F, Haslam C, Munir F, Pryce J. Returning to work following cancer: a qualitative exploratory study into the experience of returning to work following cancer. Eur J Cancer Care. 2007;16(1):17–25.
5.
6.
de Boer AG, Taskila T, Ojajarvi A, van Dijk FJ, Verbeek JH. Cancer survivors and unemployment: a meta-analysis and meta-regression. JAMA. 2009;301(7):753–62.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Carlsen K, Oksbjerg DS, Frederiksen K, Diderichsen F, Johansen C. Cancer and the risk for taking early retirement pension: a Danish cohort study. Scand J Public Health. 2008;36(2):117–25.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Bowling A. The concept of quality of life in relation to health. Med Secoli. 1995;7(3):633–45.PubMed
9.
Wadell G, Burton A. Is work good for your health and well-being? 2006.
10.
Tiedtke C, De RA, Dierckx De CB, Christiaens MR, Donceel P. Experiences and concerns about 'returning to work' for women breast cancer survivors: a literature review. Psychooncology. 2010;19(7):677–83.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Munir F, Kalawsky K, Wallis DJ, Donaldson-Feilder E. Using intervention mapping to develop a work-related guidance tool for those affected by cancer. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Wallman T, Wedel H, Palmer E, Rosengren A, Johansson S, Eriksson H, et al. Sick-leave track record and other potential predictors of a disability pension. A population based study of 8,218 men and women followed for 16 years. BMC Public Health. 2009;9:104-2458-9-104.CrossRef
13.
Van Muijen P, Weevers NLEC, Snels IAK, Duijts SFA, Bruinvels DJ, Schellart AJM, et al. Predictors of return to work and employment in cancer survivors: a systematic review. European Journal of Cancer Care. 2013;22(2):144–60.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Tamminga SJ, de Boer AG, Verbeek JH, Frings-Dresen MH. Breast cancer survivors' views of factors that influence the return-to-work process--a qualitative study. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2012;38(1795–990; 2):144–54.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Taskila T, Lindbohm ML, Martikainen R, Lehto US, Hakanen J, Hietanen P. Cancer survivors’ received and needed social support from their work place and the occupational health services. Support Care Cancer. 2006;14(5):427–35.CrossRefPubMed
16.
The Danish Health and Medicines Authority: Rehabilitation and Palliation in Cancer. 2012. (1.0)
17.
McKay G, Knott V, Delfabbro P. Return to work and cancer: the Australian experience. J Occup Rehabil. 2013;23(1):93–105.CrossRefPubMed
18.
De Boer AG, Taskila T, Tamminga SJ, Frings-Dresen MH, Feuerstein M, Verbeek JH. Interventions to enhance return-to-work for cancer patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;2(1469–493):CD007569.
19.
Fong CJ, Murphy K, Westbrook JD, Markle M: Behavioral, Psychological, Educational and Vocational Interventions to Facilitate Employment Outcomes for Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review. Campbell Systematic Reviews 2015;11(5):1–82.
20.
Palmer KT, Harris EC, Linaker C, Barker M, Lawrence W, Cooper C, et al. Effectiveness of community- and workplace-based interventions to manage musculoskeletal-related sickness absence and job loss: a systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2012;51(2):230–42.CrossRef
21.
Nieuwenhuijsen K, Faber B, Verbeek JH, Neumeyer-Gromen A, Hees HL, Verhoeven AC, et al. Interventions to improve return to work in depressed people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;12:CD006237.
22.
Arends I, Bruinvels DJ, Rebergen DS, Nieuwenhuijsen K, Madan I, Neumeyer-Gromen A, et al. Interventions to facilitate return to work in adults with adjustment disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD006389.PubMed
23.
Dahl J, Lundren T. Let go of the pain. ACT against chronic pain. 2012. Psykologisk Forlag.
24.
Dahl J, Wilson KG, Nilsson A. Acceptance and commitment therapy and the treatment of persons at risk for long-term disability resulting from stress and pain symptoms: a preliminary randomized trial. Behav Ther. 2004;35(4):785–801.CrossRef
25.
Feuerstein M, Todd BL, Moskowitz MC, Bruns GL, Stoler MR, Nassif T, et al. Work in cancer survivors: a model for practice and research. J Cancer Surviv. 2010;4(4):415–37.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Carlsen K, Dalton SO, Diderichsen F, Johansen C. Risk for unemployment of cancer survivors: a Danish cohort study. Eur J Cancer. 2008;44(13):1866–74.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Carlsen K, Harling H, Pedersen J, Christensen KB, Osler M: The transition between work, sickness absence and pension in a cohort of Danish colorectal cancer survivors. BMJ Open 2013;3(2):1–10.
28.
Amir Z, Brocky J. Cancer survivorship and employment: epidemiology. Occup Med (Lond). 2009;59(6):373–7.CrossRef
29.
Mehnert A. Employment and work-related issues in cancer survivors. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2011;77(2):109–30.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Pryce J, Munir F, Haslam C. Cancer survivorship and work: symptoms, supervisor response, co-worker disclosure and work adjustment. J Occup Rehabil. 2007;17(1):83–92.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Demark-Wahnefried W, Aziz NM, Rowland JH, Pinto BM. Riding the crest of the teachable moment: promoting long-term health after the diagnosis of cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23(24):5814–30.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
32.
Alfano CM, Ganz PA, Rowland JH, Hahn EE. Cancer survivorship and cancer rehabilitation: revitalizing the link. J Clin Oncol. 2012;30(9):904–6.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Bains M, Munir F, Yarker J, Steward W, Thomas A. Return-to-work guidance and support for colorectal cancer patients: a feasibility study. Cancer Nurs. 2011;34(0162–220; 6):E1-12.PubMed
34.
Tamminga SJ, Verbeek JH, Bos MM, Fons G, Kitzen JJ, Plaisier PW, et al. Effectiveness of a hospital-based work support intervention for female cancer patients - a multi-centre randomised controlled trial. PLoS One. 2013;8(5):e63271.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
35.
Vidor C, Leroyer A, Christophe V, Seillier M, Foncel J, Van dM, Bonneterre J, Fantoni S: Decrease social inequalities return-to-work: development and design of a randomised controlled trial among women with breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2014;14:1–10.
36.
Hubbard G, Gray NM, Ayansina D, Evans JM, Kyle RG. Case management vocational rehabilitation for women with breast cancer after surgery: a feasibility study incorporating a pilot randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2013;14:175.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
37.
Groeneveld IF, de Boer AG, Frings-Dresen MH: A multidisciplinary intervention to facilitate return to work in cancer patients: intervention protocol and design of a feasibility study. BMJ Open 2012;2(4):1–7.
38.
39.
Johansen K, Andersen JS, Mikkelsen S, Pass O, Raffnsoe S, Lynge E. Controlling sickness absence: a study of changes in the Danish sickness absence legislation since 1973. Health Policy. 2008;86(1):109–18.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Franche R, Corbiere M, Lee H, Breslin FC, Hepburn CG. The Readiness for Return-To-Work (RRTW) scale: development and Validation of a Self-report Staging Scale in Lost-time Claimants with Musculoskeletal Disorders. J Occup Rehabil. 2007;17(3):450–72.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Iles RA, Davidson M, Taylor NF, O’Halloran P. Systematic review of the ability of recovery expectations to predict outcomes in non-chronic non-specific low back pain. J Occup Rehabil. 2009;19(1):25–40.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Reiso H, Nygard JF, Brage S, Gulbrandsen P, Tellnes G. Work ability and duration of certified sickness absence. Scand J Public Health. 2001;29(3):218–25.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Schultz IZ, Crook J, Meloche GR, Berkowitz J, Milner R, Zuberbier OA, et al. Psychosocial factors predictive of occupational low back disability: towards development of a return-to-work model. Pain. 2004;107(1–2):77–85.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Prochaska JO, DiClemente CC, Norcross JC. In search of how people change. Applications to addictive behaviors. Am Psychol. 1992;47(9):1102–14.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Prochaska JO, Norcross JC, DiClemente CC: Applying the stages of change. In Psychologists Desk Reference Third Edition. Edited by Koocher GP, Norcross JC, Greene BA. USA: Oxford University Press; 2013. 176
46.
Franche R, Krause N. Readiness for Return to Work Following Injury or Illness: conceptualizing the Interpersonal Impact of Health Care, Workplace, and Insurance Factors. J Occup Rehabil. 2002;12(4):233–56.CrossRefPubMed
47.
48.
Bond GR, Drake RE, Becker DR. An update on randomized controlled trials of evidence-based supported employment. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2008;31(4):280–90.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Jordán De U, Francisco De B. Supported Employment. 2010. p. 1–10.
50.
Larsen FB, Ankersen PV, Poulsen S. How are you? 2010. Health profile for adults in the Danish regions and municipalities. 2011.
51.
Larsen FB, Friis K, Pedersen MH, Lasgaard M. How are you? 2013 Health profile for adults in the Danish regions and municipalities. 2014.
52.
Linton SJ, Boersma K. Early identification of patients at risk of developing a persistent back problem: the predictive validity of the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire. Clin J Pain. 2003;19(2):80–6.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Kristensen TS, Hannerz H, Hogh A, Borg V. The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire--a tool for the assessment and improvement of the psychosocial work environment. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2005;31(6):438–49.CrossRefPubMed
54.
Pejtersen JH, Kristensen TS, Borg V, Bjorner JB. The second version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. Scand J Public Health. 2010;38(3 Suppl):8–24.CrossRefPubMed
55.
Stapelfeldt CM, Jensen C, Andersen NT, Fleten N, Nielsen CV. Validation of sick leave measures: self-reported sick leave and sickness benefit data from a Danish national register compared to multiple workplace-registered sick leave spells in a Danish municipality. BMC Public Health. 2012;12(1):661–71.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
56.
Biering K, Hjollund NH, Lund T. Methods in measuring return to work: a comparison of measures of return to work following treatment of coronary heart disease. J Occup Rehabil. 2013;23(3):400–5.CrossRefPubMed
57.
58.
Charlson ME, Pompei P, Ales KL, MacKenzie CR. A new method of classifying prognostic comorbidity in longitudinal studies: Development and validation. J Chronic Dis. 1987;40(5):373–83.CrossRefPubMed
59.
60.
The Ministry of Employment. Women and Men in The Labour Market. 2010.
61.
Taskila T, Lindbohm ML. Factors affecting cancer survivors' employment and work ability. Acta Oncol. 2007;46(0284–186; 0284–186; 4):446–51.CrossRefPubMed
62.
Spelten ER, Sprangers MAG, Verbeek JHAM. Factors reported to influence the return to work of cancer survivors: a literature review. Psychooncology. 2002;11(2):124–31.CrossRefPubMed
63.
Klein JP, Logan B, Harhoff M, Andersen PK. Analyzing survival curves at a fixed point in time. Stat Med. 2007;26(24):4505–19.CrossRefPubMed
64.
Parner ET, Andersen PK. Regression analysis of censored data using pseudo-observations. Stata Journal. 2010;10(3):408–22.
65.
Rasmussen JH: The registeder-based evaluation of marginalised groups (DREAM-register) - code book. 2014;(32):1–45.
66.
Braathen TN, Brage S, Tellnes G, Eftedal M. Psychometric Properties of the Readiness for Return to Work Scale in Inpatient Occupational Rehabilitation in Norway. J Occup Rehabil. 2013;23(3):371–80.CrossRefPubMed
67.
Aust B, Helverskov T, Nielsen MB, Bjorner JB, Rugulies R, Nielsen K, et al. The Danish national return-to-work program--aims, content, and design of the process and effect evaluation. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2012;38(2):120–33.CrossRefPubMed
68.
Nielsen MB, Vinslov Hansen J, Aust B, Tverborgvik T, Thomsen BL, Bue Bjorner J, et al. A multisite randomized controlled trial on time to self-support among sickness absence beneficiaries. The Danish national return-to-work programme. Eur J Public Health. 2015;25(1):96–102.CrossRefPubMed
69.
Poulsen OM, Aust B, Bjorner JB, Rugulies R, Hansen JV, Tverborgvik T, et al. Effect of the Danish return-to-work program on long-term sickness absence: results from a randomized controlled trial in three municipalities. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2014;40(1):47–56.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Municipal return to work management in cancer survivors undergoing cancer treatment: a protocol on a controlled intervention study
Authors
Christina M. Stapelfeldt
Merete Labriola
Anders Bonde Jensen
Niels Trolle Andersen
Anne-Mette H. Momsen
Claus Vinther Nielsen
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2062-1

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

BMC Public Health 1/2015 Go to the issue

Study protocol

The acceptance and commitment therapy for smoking cessation in the primary health care setting: a study protocol

Research article

Traditional grain alcohol (bai jiu, 白酒) production and use in rural central China: implications for public health

Research article

Exposure to 3G mobile phone signals does not affect the biological features of brain tumor cells

Research article

Engaging families in physical activity research: a family-based focus group study

Research article

Association between alcohol consumption and the risk of ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective observational studies

Research article

The trend of lead poisoning rate in Chinese population aged 0–18 years old: a meta-analysis