iCanWork: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of the iCanWork Intervention to Improve Cancer Survivors' Experience With Return to Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the iCanWork intervention in assisting cancer survivors (CS) to return to work (RTW) and its impact on their health-related quality of life (QoL), health service utilization, RTW readiness, time to RTW, and work capacity.

The iCanWork intervention comprises several elements related to health and work, taken from the latest reviews that recommend a remote and individual intervention, led by a vocational rehabilitation counsellor (VRC), experts in assisting RTW for CS. The intervention includes 6 sessions with a VRC and 1-4 sessions with an occupational therapist (OT). A total of 270 CS will be recruited into 2 groups (intervention or control). The duration of this study is 24 months. Study participants will complete electronic questionnaires measuring study variables at baseline before randomization and at 6-month, 12-month, 18-month, and 24-month follow-ups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosed with cancer (all types) treated with curative intent and of working age (between 18 and 65 at the time of diagnosis)
• gainfully employed at the time of diagnosis (full or part-time, including students)
• still on sick leave, including long-term disability leave, but for less than 2 years
• has not started to return to work, since stopping due to cancer
• can read and understand English or French
• reside in Canada.

Exclusion Criteria:

- If the cancer survivor's physicians consider returning to work unwise, such as due to a metastatic cancer diagnosis