Return to work of cancer patients after a multidisciplinary intervention including occupational counselling and physical exercise in cancer patients: a prospective study in the Netherlands

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 7; no. 6; p. e014746
• Main Authors: Leensen, Monique C J, Groeneveld, Iris F, Heide, Iris van der, Rejda, Tomas, van Veldhoven, Peter L J, Berkel, Sietske van, Snoek, Aernout, Harten, Wim van, Frings-Dresen, Monique H W, de Boer, Angela G E M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01-06-2017; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Breast cancer; Cancer Survivors - psychology; Chemotherapy; Counseling; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Fatigue - psychology; Fatigue - rehabilitation; Fatigue - therapy; Female; Fitness training programs; Humans; Intervention; Maintenance Chemotherapy; Male; Medical prognosis; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - psychology; Neoplasms - rehabilitation; Netherlands; Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Physical Fitness; Physical Therapy Modalities; Program Evaluation; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Rehabilitation; Rehabilitation, Vocational - methods; Return to Work - psychology; Return to Work - statistics & numerical data; Self Efficacy; Social research; Working hours; Netherlands; Exercise; Occupational status; Employment; Neoplasms
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014746

ObjectivesTo support return to work (RTW) among cancer patients, a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme was developed which combined occupational counselling with a supervised physical exercise programme during chemotherapy. The aim was to investigate RTW rates of cancer patients and to evaluate changes in work-related quality of life and physical outcomes.DesignLongitudinal prospective intervention study using a one-group design.SettingTwo hospitals in the Netherlands.ParticipantsOf the eligible patients, 56% participated; 93 patients with a primary diagnosis of cancer receiving chemotherapy and on sick leave were included. Patients completed questionnaires on RTW, the importance of work, work ability (WAI), RTW self-efficacy, fatigue (MFI), and quality of life (EORTC QLQ C-30) at baseline and 6, 12 and 18 months follow-up. Before and after the exercise programme 1-repetition maximum (1RM) muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak) were assessed.ResultsSix months after the start of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme that combined occupational counselling with a supervised physical exercise programme, 59% of the cancer patients returned to work, 86% at 12 months and 83% at 18 months. In addition, significant improvements (p<0.05) in the importance of work, work ability, RTW self-efficacy, and quality of life were observed, whereas fatigue levels were significantly reduced. After completing the exercise programme, 1RM muscle strength was significantly increased but there was no improvement in VO2 peak level.ConclusionsRTW rates of cancer patients were high after completion of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme. A multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme which combines occupational counselling with a supervised physical exercise programme is likely to result in RTW, reduced fatigue and increased importance of work, work ability, and quality of life.