Practice-Based Evidence to Support Return to Work in Cancer Patients

Abstract

BackgroundInternational research emphasizes the importance of providing early, hospital-based support in return to work (RTW) for cancer patients. Even though oncology health professionals are aware of the scientific evidence, it remains unclear whether they implement this knowledge in current practice. This paper presents the knowledge and viewpoints of health care professionals (HCPs) on their potential role in their patients' RTW process.MethodsSemi-structured interviews with oncology HCPs were used to describe current practice. Results of these interviews served as input for focus group discussions with managers in oncology hospitals, which led to an agreement on of best practice.ResultsThis research had the participation of 75% of Belgian institutions involved in oncology health care services. Five themes were identified that influence care providers and staff to implement scientific evidence on RTW in cancer patients: (1) Opinions on the role that care institutions can take in RTW support; (2) Current content of RTW support during oncology care; (3) Scientific bases; (4) Barriers and success factors; and (5) Legislation and regulations. The key elements of the best practice included a generic approach adapted to the needs of the cancer patient supported by a RTW coordinator.ConclusionsHealth care providers include RTW support in their current care, but in very varied ways. They follow a process that starts with setting the indication (meaning the identification of patients for whom the provision of work-related care would be useful) and ends with a clear objective agreed upon by HCPs and the patient. We recommend that specific points of interest be included in regulation at both the patient and hospital levels.

Bridging Health Care and the Workplace: Formulation of a Return-to-Work Intervention for Breast Cancer Patients Using an Intervention Mapping Approach

“…Remarkably, many publications that discuss the development and/or effects of RTW interventions rarely offer information focused on the elaborated intervention protocols. Combined with the difficulty of accessing research results, this lack of concrete information on how an intervention is to be implemented and what tools are to be used hinders the implementation of these research results in healthcare practice 109 . Evaluation of the feasibility of the intervention and the process evaluation setup in preparation for a large-scale RCT is still ongoing as this paper is submitted.…”