Cancer patients, cancer survivors, return-to-work, intervention, tailored intervention program, social security safety netter, unemployed, temporary agency worker, sickness benefit, social security agency. Kanker, kankerpatiënten, werkhervatting, terugkeer naar werk, interventie, interventieprogramma, ondersteuning, werklozen, uitzendkrachten, einde-dienstverbanders, vangnetters, uitkering, UWV.
Conditions
Interventions
The tailored intervention program starts with an introductory interview, during which the tailored intervention program will be explained and obstacles for return-to-work and other forms of activities
2. Recovery: Optionally, mental and/or physical components are offered through professional primary and secondary care.
3. Job application: Maximum of 8 sessions during which rehabilitation skills, j
Sponsors
VU University Medical Centre/EMGO+ Institute
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Patients and survivors are eligible to participate in this study, when they are between 18 and 60 years old, when they have a primary diagnosis of cancer and when this diagnosis is registered at UWV, as the main cause for their sick-leave. Furthermore, they must be registered at UWV as a social security safety netter without an employment contract; they must have applied for a sickness benefit and they must be at sick leave for at least 3 months up to 18 months. Patients will be included if they are receiving treatment with curative intent, defined as a 1 year survival rate of ca. 80% at time of diagnosis. In case a patient is still undergoing intensive cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or a combination of those), he/she will be included at a minimum of 6 weeks after finishing these treatments. Amendment 21-dec-2014: They must have applied for sickness or disability benefits and must be on sick leave for at least 12 months up to 36 months. Patients will be included if their health status allows them to participate in the study (based on self-report by the cancer survivor) and if they have no comorbidities (e.g., severe psychological or physical conditions) that would interfere with participating in this study (based on report from the cancer survivor’s general practitioner (GP)).
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Patients will be excluded in case of comorbidity of such kind that participating in the tailored intervention program is not possible (assessment by participants’ general physician), in case of serious psychiatric disorders, in case of pregnancy, in case of a lack of knowledge of the Dutch language and/or in case of a conflict with UWV regarding a (previous) sickness benefit claim or a long-term disability claim. Additionally, patients will be excluded if they are participating or signed up to be participating in a concurrent scientific study and/or re-integration/rehabilitation program.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Amendment 21-dec-2014: The primary outcome measure of this study is duration until sustainable RTW after sick leave, calculated as the number of days between the day of randomisation and the first day of sustainable RTW. Sustainable RTW is defined as a period of minimum 28 calendar days, during which the cancer survivors is working according to schedule. Work can be either paid work or work resumption with ongoing benefits, e.g., work with therapeutic conditions. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Rate of return-to-work during follow-up, readiness to return to work, fatigue, psychological distress, general participation in society, coping, general health and health related quality of life. Other parameters are: socio-demographic factors, co-morbidity, questions regarding cancer diagnosis and treatment, work-related questions. | — |
Contacts
Public ContactHan J.R. Anema
VU University Medical Center, Department of Public and Occupational Health and EMGO-Institute, Body@Work TNO van der Boechorststraat 7
Outcome results
None listed