A Hospital-Based Work Support Intervention to Enhance the Return to Work of Cancer Patients: A Process Evaluation

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.

Effectiveness of a Hospital-Based Work Support Intervention for Female Cancer Patients – A Multi-Centre Randomised Controlled Trial

“…Seven patients (12%) assigned to the intervention group did not receive the patient education and support from the nurse [34]. For all patients who provided this type of consent (86%), at least one letter from the treating physician was sent to the occupational physician.…”

“…Few studies have addressed this important subject by developing an intervention that is primarily aimed at enhancing the return-to-work of cancer patients [12], [13], [34]. Furthermore, another strength of this study was the use of a low-cost intervention that could be implemented without substantially increasing the time required, which is important because of the burden on cancer care.…”

Mental Functioning of Workers with Cancer Diagnosis by Brazilian Version of the Work Role Functioning Questionnaire—<i>WRFQ-Br</i>

“…It may be associated with the patient's function in the family, at work, hence into society [21]. The systematic involvement of health professionals in psychosocial support to the work of cancer patients and the integration among physicians involved in the treatment and occupational characteristics may facilitate the return to work activities [22].…”

Propriedades psicométricas do questionário de avaliação de desempenho no trabalho em trabalhadores submetidos à radioterapia

“…O Os instrumentos utilizados e a análise de dados prevista são descritos a seguir e a discussão foi orientada pela literatura especializada [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] .…”