gms | German Medical Science

Background: Effective multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs supporting the return to work have become increasingly relevant for cancer patients [1]. In Germany, work-related medical rehabilitation programs consider treatment modules of work-related diagnostics, work-related functional capacity training, psychosocial groups, and intensified social counseling [2].

Aim: Our study investigated the effectiveness of work-related medical rehabilitation as compared with conventional medical rehabilitation in a cluster randomized multicenter trial [3] (German Clinical Trial Register: DRKS00007770).

Method: 484 cancer patients aged 18 to 60 years were recruited in four rehabilitation centers. Patients of a center starting their rehabilitation in the same week represented a cluster. These clusters were randomly assigned with computer-generated randomization schedules to intervention (IG) or control group (CG). The primary outcome was role functioning at the 12-month follow-up as assessed by the corresponding scale of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were quality of life domains and return to work.

Results/findings: Analysis of delivered dose of treatments indicated a successful implementation of work-related medical rehabilitation. 379 patients, 197 in the IG, were included in the analysis of the 12-month follow-up. There was no significant difference between IG and CG in the primary outcome (role functioning: b=3.69; 95% CI: -2.01–9.39; p=0.204) and secondary outcomes. Return to work rates were 72% and 75% for the IG and CG.

Discussion and conclusions: Despite effects at the end of rehabilitation and the 3-month follow-up work-related medical rehabilitation in cancer survivors had no long-term effect on quality of life and return to work as compared with medical rehabilitation.