Introduction: Due to large and increasing numbers of cancer survivors, long-term cancer-related health issues have become a major focus of attention. This study examined the relation between a high-intensity physical rehabilitation program and return-to-work in cancer survivors who had received chemotherapy. Methods: The intervention group, consisting of 72 cancer survivors from one hospital (8 men and 64 women, mean age 49 years), followed an 18-weeks rehabilitation program including strength and interval training, and home-based activities. An age-matched control group, consisting of 38 cancer survivors (9 men and 29 women), was recruited from two other hospitals. They received only standard medical care. All subjects were evaluated during a telephone interview on employment issues, conducted at ±!3 years after diagnosis. The main outcomes were change in working hours per week and time until return-to-work. Results: Patients in the intervention group showed significant less reduction in working hours per week [-5.0 h/week vs.-10.8 h/week (P =.03)]. Multivariate analyses showed that the training intervention, the age of patients, and the number of working hours pre-diagnosis could explain the improvement in long-term participation at work. Time until (partial) return-to-work was 11.5 weeks for the intervention group versus 13.2 weeks for the control group (P =.40). On long-term follow-up, 78% of the participants from the intervention group versus 66% from the control group had returned to work on the pre-diagnosis level of working hours (P =.18). Conclusion Rehabilitation using high-intensity physical training is useful for working patients to minimize the decreased ability to work resulting from cancer and its treatment. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.
CITATION STYLE
Thijs, K. M., De Boer, A. G. E. M., Vreugdenhil, G., Van De Wouw, A. J., Houterman, S., & Schep, G. (2012). Rehabilitation using high-intensity physical training and long-term return-to-work in cancer survivors. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 22(2), 220–229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-011-9341-1
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