A Digital-Based Coaching Intervention for Cancer Survivors with Job Loss, a Retrospective Analysis (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Return-to-work (RTW) is a key unmet need for working age cancer survivors. OBJECTIVE This study sought to evaluate RTW outcomes of a multidisciplinary intervention provided as routine employee support. METHODS In a retrospective cohort analysis, patients with cancer and more than 3 months absent from work were provided 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 RTW rate as a percentage of all participants and secondary outcomes such as the rate of death were measured. The median time to RTW was compared between the cohorts using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS 220 participants 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). In the matched control group, 22 returned to work (17.6%) compared with 38 (30.4%) in the intervention group (P=.02). Nineteen matched controls died prior to claim closure (15.2%) compared with 13 in the intervention group (10.4%; P=.26). Kaplan-Meier estimated median time for the first 15% of the cohorts to RTW was 87.1 weeks for the matched control (CI 60.0-109.1 weeks) compared with 70.6 weeks for the intervention (CI 52.6-79.6 weeks; P=.08). 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. CLINICALTRIAL