David Fauser1, Julian Wienert2, Thomas Beinert3, Jan Schmielau4, Irene Biester5, Hans-Ulrich Krüger6, Angelika Presl6, Matthias Bethge1. 1. Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Lubeck, Lubeck, Germany. 2. Department of Psychology and Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany. 3. Department of Oncology, Paracelsus-Klinik am See, Bad Gandersheim, Germany. 4. Department of Oncology, AMEOS Reha Klinikum, Ratzeburg, Germany. 5. Department of Oncology, MediClin Rose Klinik, Horn-Bad Meinberg, Germany. 6. Department of Oncology, Klinik Bavaria, Freyung, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Effective multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs supporting the return to work have become increasingly relevant for cancer survivors. In Germany, inpatient work-related medical rehabilitation programs consider treatment modules of work-related diagnostics, work-related functional capacity training, psychosocial groups, and intensified social counseling. The authors tested the effectiveness of a work-related medical rehabilitation program compared with conventional medical rehabilitation using a cluster-randomized multicenter trial (German Clinical Trial Register: DRKS00007770). METHODS: In total, 484 patients with cancer were recruited at 4 rehabilitation centers. Patients at a center who started their rehabilitation in the same week represented a cluster. These clusters were randomly assigned using computer-generated randomization schedules either to an intervention group (IG) or to a control group (CG). The primary outcome was role functioning. Secondary outcomes were other quality-of-life domains and the return to work. RESULTS: In total, 425 patients (210 in the IG) were included in the analysis at the 3-month follow-up. There was no significant difference between the IG and CG in role functioning (b = 3.55; 95% CI, -1.18 to 8.29; P = .142). Participants in the IG reported better physical functioning (b = 5.99; 95% CI, 3.33-8.65; P < .001), less physical fatigue (b = -5.09; 95% CI, -9.62 to -0.56; P = .028), and less pain (b = -6.24; 95% CI, -11.24 to -1.23; P = .015). CONCLUSIONS: Work-related medical rehabilitation had no effect on the primary outcome compared with conventional medical rehabilitation but may enhance physical functioning and reduce physical fatigue and pain.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Effective multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs supporting the return to work have become increasingly relevant for cancer survivors. In Germany, inpatient work-related medical rehabilitation programs consider treatment modules of work-related diagnostics, work-related functional capacity training, psychosocial groups, and intensified social counseling. The authors tested the effectiveness of a work-related medical rehabilitation program compared with conventional medical rehabilitation using a cluster-randomized multicenter trial (German Clinical Trial Register: DRKS00007770). METHODS: In total, 484 patients with cancer were recruited at 4 rehabilitation centers. Patients at a center who started their rehabilitation in the same week represented a cluster. These clusters were randomly assigned using computer-generated randomization schedules either to an intervention group (IG) or to a control group (CG). The primary outcome was role functioning. Secondary outcomes were other quality-of-life domains and the return to work. RESULTS: In total, 425 patients (210 in the IG) were included in the analysis at the 3-month follow-up. There was no significant difference between the IG and CG in role functioning (b = 3.55; 95% CI, -1.18 to 8.29; P = .142). Participants in the IG reported better physical functioning (b = 5.99; 95% CI, 3.33-8.65; P < .001), less physical fatigue (b = -5.09; 95% CI, -9.62 to -0.56; P = .028), and less pain (b = -6.24; 95% CI, -11.24 to -1.23; P = .015). CONCLUSIONS: Work-related medical rehabilitation had no effect on the primary outcome compared with conventional medical rehabilitation but may enhance physical functioning and reduce physical fatigue and pain.
Authors: Anneke Ullrich; Hilke Maria Rath; Ullrich Otto; Christa Kerschgens; Martin Raida; Christa Hagen-Aukamp; Corinna Bergelt Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2021-08-15 Impact factor: 3.603