Case Management Vocational Rehabilitation for Women with Breast Cancer After Surgery: a Feasibility Study Incorporating a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal Trials

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties General Medicine
Pharmacology

Date 2013 Jun 18

PMID 23768153

Citations 28

Authors

Gill Hubbard

Nicola M Gray

Dolapo Ayansina

Josie M M Evans

Richard G Kyle

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of methodologically robust vocational rehabilitation (VR) intervention trials. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a VR trial of women with breast cancer to inform the development of a larger interventional study.

Methods: Women were recruited in Scotland and randomised to either a case management VR service or to usual care. Data were collected on eligibility, recruitment and attrition rates to assess trial feasibility, and interviews conducted to determine trial acceptability. Sick leave days (primary outcome) were self-reported via postal questionnaire every 4 weeks during the first 6 months post-surgery and at 12 months. Secondary outcome measures were change in employment pattern, quality of life and fatigue.

Results: Of the 1,114 women assessed for eligibility, 163 (15%) were eligible. The main reason for ineligibility was age (>65 years, n = 637, 67%). Of those eligible, 111 (68%) received study information, of which 23 (21%) consented to participate in the study. Data for 18 (78%) women were analysed (intervention: n = 7; control: n = 11). Participants in the intervention group reported, on average, 53 fewer days of sick leave over the first 6 months post-surgery than those in the control group; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.122; 95% confidence interval -15.8, 122.0). No statistically significant differences were found for secondary outcomes. Interviews with trial participants indicated that trial procedures, including recruitment, randomisation and research instruments, were acceptable.

Conclusions: Conducting a pragmatic trial of effectiveness of a VR intervention among cancer survivors is both feasible and acceptable, but more research about the exact components of a VR intervention and choice of outcomes to measure effectiveness is required. VR to assist breast cancer patients in the return to work process is an important component of cancer survivorship plans.

Trial Registration: ISRCTN29666484.

Citing Articles

Benefits of Early Integrated and Vocational Rehabilitation in Breast Cancer on Work Ability, Sick Leave Duration, and Disability Rates.

Kovacevic N, Zagar T, Homar V, Pelhan B, Sremec M, Rozman T Healthcare (Basel). 2024; 12(23).

PMID: 39685055 PMC: 11641150. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12232433.

Perioperative Rehabilitation in Collaboration with the Department of Occupational Medicine for Patients with Cholangiocarcinoma: A Case Report.

Teramatsu H, Hachisuka A, Nagata M, Kohi S, Hamada M, Kuhara S Phys Ther Res. 2024; 27(2):108-114.

PMID: 39257522 PMC: 11382788. DOI: 10.1298/ptr.E10275.

Non-medical interventions to enhance return to work for people with cancer.

de Boer A, Tamminga S, Boschman J, Hoving J Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024; 3:CD007569.

PMID: 38441440 PMC: 10913845. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007569.pub4.

Development of a breast cancer case management information platform (BC-CMIP) module based on patient-perceived value.

Liang Y, Gao Y, Yin G, Chen W, Gan X Front Oncol. 2022; 12:1034171.

PMID: 36518322 PMC: 9742556. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1034171.

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 K, Ahn Y, Kim N, Nam S, Lee J Cancer Res Treat. 2022; 55(2):419-428.

PMID: 36397237 PMC: 10101798. DOI: 10.4143/crt.2022.939.

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