Work ability following breast cancer - the MyHealth randomized controlled trial

Trine A Horsbøl; Lena Saltbæk; Caroline Urhammer; Randi V Karlsen; Christoffer Johansen; Pernille E Bidstrup; Beverley L Høeg; Vibeke Zoffmann; Federica Belmonte; Ingelise Andersen; Anne S Friberg; Mads N Svendsen; Helle G Christensen; Vesna Glavicic; Dorte L Nielsen; Susanne O Dalton

doi:10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42221

Work ability following breast cancer - the MyHealth randomized controlled trial

Trine A Horsbøl^*, Lena Saltbæk, Caroline Urhammer, Randi V Karlsen, Christoffer Johansen, Pernille E Bidstrup, Beverley L Høeg, Vibeke Zoffmann, Federica Belmonte, Ingelise Andersen, Anne S Friberg, Mads N Svendsen, Helle G Christensen, Vesna Glavicic, Dorte L Nielsen, Susanne O Dalton

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Klinisk Onkologisk Afdeling

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Artikel › Forskning › peer review

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We previously demonstrated positive effects on quality of life and mental health following breast cancer when comparing a nurse-led follow-up program without scheduled visits (MyHealth) to regular follow-up. This study aims to examine whether MyHealth also positively impacts self-reported work ability.

PATIENTS/MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 288 patients, potentially active on the labour market, were randomized to MyHealth or control follow-up after primary treatment for early-stage breast cancer (2017-2019). MyHealth included individual self-management sessions, electronic symptom monitoring, and assistance with navigating healthcare services. Control follow-up consisted of biannual outpatient visits with a physician. Linear mixed-effect models were applied to evaluate the effect of MyHealth on self-reported work ability at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after randomization as measured by the Work Ability Score (WAS).

RESULTS: Work ability increased significantly in both groups during the first 6 months (mean WAS increase MyHealth: 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26; 2.02 and control: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.17; 1.97) and continued to increase slightly but non-significantly (p-values > 0.13) until end of follow-up at 36 months. Improvement was especially pronounced among patients reporting poor work ability at baseline. Differences in mean WAS between patients in MyHealth and control follow-up were non-significant and close to zero at all time points (-0.21 to 0.48).

INTERPRETATION: The MyHealth follow-up program had no additional effect on self-reported work ability compared to regular follow-up. Future interventions should target patients with poor work ability and include components specifically designed to enhance work ability.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Sider (fra-til)	34-39
Antal sider	6
Tidsskrift	Acta Oncologica
Vol/bind	64
DOI	https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42221
Status	Udgivet - 8 jan. 2025

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10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42221Licens: CC BY

Citationsformater

Horsbøl, T. A., Saltbæk, L., Urhammer, C., Karlsen, R. V., Johansen, C., Bidstrup, P. E., Høeg, B. L., Zoffmann, V., Belmonte, F., Andersen, I., Friberg, A. S., Svendsen, M. N., Christensen, H. G., Glavicic, V., Nielsen, D. L., & Dalton, S. O. (2025). Work ability following breast cancer - the MyHealth randomized controlled trial. Acta Oncologica, 64, 34-39. https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42221

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title = "Work ability following breast cancer - the MyHealth randomized controlled trial",

abstract = "BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We previously demonstrated positive effects on quality of life and mental health following breast cancer when comparing a nurse-led follow-up program without scheduled visits (MyHealth) to regular follow-up. This study aims to examine whether MyHealth also positively impacts self-reported work ability.PATIENTS/MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 288 patients, potentially active on the labour market, were randomized to MyHealth or control follow-up after primary treatment for early-stage breast cancer (2017-2019). MyHealth included individual self-management sessions, electronic symptom monitoring, and assistance with navigating healthcare services. Control follow-up consisted of biannual outpatient visits with a physician. Linear mixed-effect models were applied to evaluate the effect of MyHealth on self-reported work ability at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after randomization as measured by the Work Ability Score (WAS).RESULTS: Work ability increased significantly in both groups during the first 6 months (mean WAS increase MyHealth: 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26; 2.02 and control: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.17; 1.97) and continued to increase slightly but non-significantly (p-values > 0.13) until end of follow-up at 36 months. Improvement was especially pronounced among patients reporting poor work ability at baseline. Differences in mean WAS between patients in MyHealth and control follow-up were non-significant and close to zero at all time points (-0.21 to 0.48).INTERPRETATION: The MyHealth follow-up program had no additional effect on self-reported work ability compared to regular follow-up. Future interventions should target patients with poor work ability and include components specifically designed to enhance work ability.",

keywords = "Adult, Aged, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Breast Neoplasms/psychology, Follow-Up Studies, Quality of Life, Return to Work/statistics & numerical data, Self Report, Self-Management/methods, Telemedicine, Work Capacity Evaluation",

author = "Horsb{\o}l, {Trine A} and Lena Saltb{\ae}k and Caroline Urhammer and Karlsen, {Randi V} and Christoffer Johansen and Bidstrup, {Pernille E} and H{\o}eg, {Beverley L} and Vibeke Zoffmann and Federica Belmonte and Ingelise Andersen and Friberg, {Anne S} and Svendsen, {Mads N} and Christensen, {Helle G} and Vesna Glavicic and Nielsen, {Dorte L} and Dalton, {Susanne O}",

year = "2025",

month = jan,

day = "8",

doi = "10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42221",

language = "English",

volume = "64",

pages = "34--39",

journal = "Acta Oncologica",

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Horsbøl, TA, Saltbæk, L, Urhammer, C, Karlsen, RV, Johansen, C, Bidstrup, PE, Høeg, BL, Zoffmann, V, Belmonte, F, Andersen, I, Friberg, AS, Svendsen, MN , Christensen, HG , Glavicic, V, Nielsen, DL & Dalton, SO 2025, 'Work ability following breast cancer - the MyHealth randomized controlled trial', Acta Oncologica, bind 64, s. 34-39. https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42221

TY - JOUR

T1 - Work ability following breast cancer - the MyHealth randomized controlled trial

AU - Horsbøl, Trine A

AU - Saltbæk, Lena

AU - Urhammer, Caroline

AU - Karlsen, Randi V

AU - Johansen, Christoffer

AU - Bidstrup, Pernille E

AU - Høeg, Beverley L

AU - Zoffmann, Vibeke

AU - Belmonte, Federica

AU - Andersen, Ingelise

AU - Friberg, Anne S

AU - Svendsen, Mads N

AU - Christensen, Helle G

AU - Glavicic, Vesna

AU - Nielsen, Dorte L

AU - Dalton, Susanne O

PY - 2025/1/8

Y1 - 2025/1/8

N2 - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We previously demonstrated positive effects on quality of life and mental health following breast cancer when comparing a nurse-led follow-up program without scheduled visits (MyHealth) to regular follow-up. This study aims to examine whether MyHealth also positively impacts self-reported work ability.PATIENTS/MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 288 patients, potentially active on the labour market, were randomized to MyHealth or control follow-up after primary treatment for early-stage breast cancer (2017-2019). MyHealth included individual self-management sessions, electronic symptom monitoring, and assistance with navigating healthcare services. Control follow-up consisted of biannual outpatient visits with a physician. Linear mixed-effect models were applied to evaluate the effect of MyHealth on self-reported work ability at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after randomization as measured by the Work Ability Score (WAS).RESULTS: Work ability increased significantly in both groups during the first 6 months (mean WAS increase MyHealth: 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26; 2.02 and control: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.17; 1.97) and continued to increase slightly but non-significantly (p-values > 0.13) until end of follow-up at 36 months. Improvement was especially pronounced among patients reporting poor work ability at baseline. Differences in mean WAS between patients in MyHealth and control follow-up were non-significant and close to zero at all time points (-0.21 to 0.48).INTERPRETATION: The MyHealth follow-up program had no additional effect on self-reported work ability compared to regular follow-up. Future interventions should target patients with poor work ability and include components specifically designed to enhance work ability.

AB - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We previously demonstrated positive effects on quality of life and mental health following breast cancer when comparing a nurse-led follow-up program without scheduled visits (MyHealth) to regular follow-up. This study aims to examine whether MyHealth also positively impacts self-reported work ability.PATIENTS/MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 288 patients, potentially active on the labour market, were randomized to MyHealth or control follow-up after primary treatment for early-stage breast cancer (2017-2019). MyHealth included individual self-management sessions, electronic symptom monitoring, and assistance with navigating healthcare services. Control follow-up consisted of biannual outpatient visits with a physician. Linear mixed-effect models were applied to evaluate the effect of MyHealth on self-reported work ability at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after randomization as measured by the Work Ability Score (WAS).RESULTS: Work ability increased significantly in both groups during the first 6 months (mean WAS increase MyHealth: 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26; 2.02 and control: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.17; 1.97) and continued to increase slightly but non-significantly (p-values > 0.13) until end of follow-up at 36 months. Improvement was especially pronounced among patients reporting poor work ability at baseline. Differences in mean WAS between patients in MyHealth and control follow-up were non-significant and close to zero at all time points (-0.21 to 0.48).INTERPRETATION: The MyHealth follow-up program had no additional effect on self-reported work ability compared to regular follow-up. Future interventions should target patients with poor work ability and include components specifically designed to enhance work ability.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Breast Neoplasms/psychology

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Return to Work/statistics & numerical data

KW - Self Report

KW - Self-Management/methods

KW - Telemedicine

KW - Work Capacity Evaluation

U2 - 10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42221

DO - 10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42221

M3 - Article

C2 - 39775013

SN - 0284-186X

VL - 64

SP - 34

EP - 39

JO - Acta Oncologica

JF - Acta Oncologica

ER -

Work ability following breast cancer - the MyHealth randomized controlled trial

Abstract

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