Open AccessA Digital Coaching Intervention for Cancer Survivors With Job Loss: Retrospective Study
Author(s) -
Jonathon Lo,
Kieran Ballurkar,
Simonie Fox,
Kate Tynan,
Nghiep Luu,
Michael Boyer,
Raghav Murali-Ganesh
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
jmir cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2369-1999
DOI - 10.2196/31966
Subject(s) - medicine , propensity score matching , retrospective cohort study , cohort , intervention (counseling) , cancer , physical therapy , cohort study , breast cancer , coaching , nursing , psychology , psychotherapist
Background Returning to work is a key unmet need for working-age cancer survivors. Objective This study sought to evaluate return-to-work outcomes of a multidisciplinary intervention provided as routine employee support. Methods In a retrospective cohort analysis, patients with cancer and more than 3 months of absence from work were provided with an intervention consisting of digital resources and calls with a health coach. Propensity score matching was used to define a similar cohort of cancer patients absent from work, who were not offered the coaching intervention. The return-to-work rate as a percentage of all participants and secondary outcomes, such as the rate of death, were measured. The median time to return to work was compared between the cohorts using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results A total of 220 participants were enrolled in the intervention, of which 125 met the criteria for analysis. The median follow-up from cancer diagnosis was 79 weeks (IQR 60-106 weeks). In the matched control group, 22 (17.6%) participants returned to work compared with 38 (30.4%) in the intervention group (P=.02). Additionally, 19 (15.2%) matched controls died prior to claim closure compared with 13 (10.4%) in the intervention group (P=.26). The Kaplan-Meier estimated median time for the first 15% of the cohort to return to work was 87.1 weeks (95% CI 60.0-109.1 weeks) for the matched control group compared with 70.6 weeks (95% CI 52.6-79.6 weeks; P=.08) for the intervention group. Conclusions Patients receiving a remotely delivered coaching program in a real-world setting returned to work at a higher frequency than did control participants receiving usual care.