Enhancing Work Participation of Unemployed and Work-Disabled Cancer Survivors

Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)164 enrolled

Overview

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the PLACES intervention on paid employment re-entry in unemployed and work-disabled cancer survivors, compared to CAU. Secondary Objectives are: * To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the PLACES intervention aimed at unemployed or work-disabled cancer survivors. * To evaluate the effectiveness of the PLACES intervention on time until paid employment, type of employment, change in working hours, quality of life, quality of working life, work ability, and self-efficacy regarding RTW, in unemployed or work-disabled cancer survivors. * To evaluate the process of conducting the PLACES intervention in terms of recruitment, reach, dose delivered, dose received, fidelity and context. Participants in the intervention group will receive the PLACES intervention with a maximum duration of 1 year, and participants in the control group will receive CAU.

Participants in the intervention group (n=82) will receive a tailored supported employment intervention, based on the principles of individual placement and support (IPS). This includes support in seeking, returning to and maintaining paid employment. Participants in the control group (n=82) will receive care as usual. All participants will be asked to complete questionnaires, at baseline (T0), and after three (T1), six (T2) and 12 months (T3) follow-up. The primary outcome is obtainment of paid employment. Secondary outcomes are employment status, time until paid employment, change in working hours, importance of work, RTW expectations, work ability, quality of (working) life, and self-efficacy regarding RTW. Process evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed. It is expected that that a significantly higher proportion of participants in the intervention group will obtain paid employment at any point during 12-month follow-up compared to participants in the control group. Additionally, their health, financial situation and quality of life will be improved. If proven effective, the intention is to implement the intervention in usual rehabilitation care. The study is funded by the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) and in collaboration with the Netherlands comprehensive cancer organisation (IKNL) and the social security agency (SSA)

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Interventions

PLACESBEHAVIORAL

The PLACES intervention is based on eight IPS principles, ensuring competitive employment, client choice, service integration, personalized benefits counseling, rapid job search, systematic development, and individualized support. Coaches: Certified IPS coaches receive training from Phrenos IPS knowledge center and Re-turn. Ongoing support includes video lectures, clarifications with researchers, and biannual collective sessions. Coaches, regionally specialized, implement interventions autonomously. Intervention Phases: 1. Intake and Assessment: Participants meet IPS coaches within three days to discuss goals, procedures, and responsibilities, continuing until objectives are met. 2. Acquisition and Application: Coaches assist job search and placement, aiming for employment within 30 days. 3. Placement and Support: Coaches offer personalized support, adapting to needs, scheduling meetings based on preferences. The intervention ends at 12 months or when goals are achieved.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

In order to be eligible for participation, participants must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Of working age (18-65 years); 2. Diagnosed with cancer between 6 months and 10 years ago; 3. Unemployed and either partially or fully work-disabled 4. They have completed their primary treatment (except long-term treatment such as hormone therapy); 5. An approved reintegration trajectory at the SSA; 6. Seeking paid employment and motivated to initiate work promptly. Cancer survivors who are unable to speak, read or understand the Dutch language and cancer survivors who got diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma will be excluded from participation.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Paid employment (yes/no)

The primary outcome measure is paid employment (yes/no) at any point during the 1-year-follow-up. Being in paid employment is operationalised as working in a paid job for at least one hour per week as defined by the central statistics office.

Time frame: 12 months

Secondary Outcomes

Employment status

Participants will be ask about their current work situation. A combination of answer options is possible: fulltime, parttime, self-employed, studying, retired, involuntary unemployed, voluntary unemployed, (partially) work-disabled, employed but on sick leave, unemployed and on sick leave, household/caring for others, and 'other'.