Using intervention mapping to develop a work-related guidance tool for those affected by cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Occupational Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Working-aged individuals with cancer face challenges in managing work-related decisions due to insufficient support from healthcare professionals and a lack of employer understanding.
• A significant gap exists in addressing the work-related needs of cancer patients, impacting their employment, sick leave, and return-to-work outcomes.
• Existing support systems often fail to adequately consider the intersection of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and the demands of the workplace.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically develop a work-related guidance tool for individuals diagnosed with cancer.
• To empower cancer patients to proactively discuss their work-related needs with healthcare providers, employers, and support services.
• To minimize the negative impact of cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment on employment and return-to-work trajectories.

Main Methods:

• Employed the first five steps of the Intervention Mapping Protocol (IMP) for systematic tool development.
• Conducted a needs assessment to identify information and advice gaps among stakeholders.
• Utilized a two-stage Delphi process for tool refinement with various stakeholders, followed by a pilot study with 38 cancer patients.

Main Results:

• A self-led guidance tool was successfully developed, suitable for individuals with cancer across diverse employment settings.
• The pilot study demonstrated the tool's relevance and high demand among the target population.
• The tool facilitates essential discussions to address work-related concerns during and after cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

• The Intervention Mapping Protocol (IMP) is an effective framework for designing complex health-related guidance tools.
• The developed tool provides a valuable resource for cancer patients to manage work-related issues.
• The methodology and design of this tool have potential applications in other occupational and healthcare contexts.