Educational Intervention for Reducing Work Disability in Breast Cancer Survivors

This randomized clinical trial studies an educational intervention for reducing work disability in breast cancer survivors. Web sites providing symptom management education may be an effective method to help breast cancer survivors reduce work disability after treatment

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the feasibility and usability of the Work Ability Improvement Through Symptom Management and Ergonomic Strategies (WISE) and empirically evaluate its effect on short-term work ability among breast cancer survivors (BCS). SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Explore individual and workplace factors associated with work ability in BCS. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. ARM I: Patients receive access to the WISE web-based educational intervention to help BCS manage their symptoms, identify ergonomic workplace problems and risks, and implement ergonomic modifications. Patients also receive standard of care comprising symptom management therapies and a pamphlet on employment rights. ARM II: Patients receive standard of care comprising symptom management therapies and a pamphlet on employment rights. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 3 and 6 months.

Patients receive access to the WISE web-based educational intervention to help BCS manage their symptoms, identify ergonomic workplace problems and risks, and implement ergonomic modifications. Patients also receive standard of care comprising symptom management therapies and a pamphlet on employment rights.

Patients receive standard of care comprising symptom management therapies and a pamphlet on employment rights.

The primary analysis of the effect of the WISE intervention on work ability will be performed using a Wilcoxon rank sum test.

The primary analysis of the effect of the WISE intervention on work ability will be performed using a Wilcoxon rank sum test.

Individual factors, including symptoms assessed using the Symptom Bother-Revised scale (SB-R) and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), socio-demographic factors, individual disease factors, and treatment factors

Individual factors, including symptoms assessed using the SB-R and MDASI, socio-demographic factors, individual disease factors, and treatment factors

Individual factors, including symptoms assessed using the SB-R and MDASI, socio-demographic factors, individual disease factors, and treatment factors

Workplace factors, including work history, job characteristics, job control, job support, and level of job stress using the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ)

Workplace factors, including work history, job characteristics, job control, job support, and level of job stress using the JCQ

Workplace factors, including work history, job characteristics, job control, job support, and level of job stress using the JCQ

Feasibility measures, including participation/dropout rates, patient satisfaction, usability/satisfaction with WISE, knowledge/use of self-care symptom management/ergonomic strategies, and use of ergonomic/symptom management strategies, and barriers

Self-car symptom management strategies used (if any), workplace strategies implemented, and barriers to implementation

Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosed with breast cancer Employed at time of cancer diagnosis (defined as paid employment > 20 hours/week) Within six months of completion of active treatment Working during treatment or intending to return to work following active treatment Computer and internet access Exclusion Criteria: Patients who do not intend to continue/resume working following treatment Develop distant metastases or progressive disease Prior diagnosis of malignancy at any other site except for in situ carcinomas of the cervix or non-melanomatous skin cancers