Return to Work Interventions for Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and a Methodological Critique

Kristopher Lamore, Thomas Dubois, Ulrike Rothe, Matilde Leonardi, Isabelle Girard, Ulf Manuwald, Soja Nazarov, Fabiola Silvaggi, Erika Guastafierro, Chiara Scaratti, Thierry Breton and Jérôme Foucaud
Additional contact information
Kristopher Lamore: Institut National du Cancer (INCa), 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Thomas Dubois: Institut National du Cancer (INCa), 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Ulrike Rothe: Health Sciences/Public Health, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Matilde Leonardi: Neurologia, Salute Pubblica e Disabilità, FONDAZIONE IRCCS ISTITUTO NEUROLOGICO CARLO BESTA, 20133 Milan, Italy
Isabelle Girard: Institut National du Cancer (INCa), 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Ulf Manuwald: Health Sciences/Public Health, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Soja Nazarov: Health Sciences/Public Health, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Fabiola Silvaggi: Neurologia, Salute Pubblica e Disabilità, FONDAZIONE IRCCS ISTITUTO NEUROLOGICO CARLO BESTA, 20133 Milan, Italy
Erika Guastafierro: Neurologia, Salute Pubblica e Disabilità, FONDAZIONE IRCCS ISTITUTO NEUROLOGICO CARLO BESTA, 20133 Milan, Italy
Chiara Scaratti: Neurologia, Salute Pubblica e Disabilità, FONDAZIONE IRCCS ISTITUTO NEUROLOGICO CARLO BESTA, 20133 Milan, Italy
Thierry Breton: Institut National du Cancer (INCa), 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Jérôme Foucaud: Institut National du Cancer (INCa), 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: Cancer patients are more at risk of being unemployed or having difficulties to return to work (RTW) compared to individuals without health concerns, and is thus a major public health issue. The aim of this systematic review is to identify and describe the interventions developed specifically to help cancer patients to RTW after treatment. Two researchers independently screened the articles for inclusion and Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklists were used to assess the methodology of the included studies. Ten manuscripts met the inclusion criteria. The type of studies were three quasi-experimental studies, three longitudinal studies, three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and a qualitative study. RTW interventions were conducted in or outside the hospital ( n = 6 and 3 respectively), or both ( n = 1). Improvements in RTW were only observed in quasi-experimental studies. No improvement in RTW was noted in RCTs, nor in other measures (e.g., quality of life, fatigue). Lack of statistically significant improvement does not necessarily reflect reality, but may be attributed to non-adapted research methods. This systematic review underscores the need for researches in the RTW field to reach a consensus on RTW criteria and their assessment. Recommendations to this effect are suggested.

Keywords: cancer; intervention; return to work; systematic review; work rehabilitation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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