Abstract
Background: More than 50% of breast cancer patients are diagnosed before the age of 65. Returning to work after treatment is, therefore, of interest for both the individual and society. The aim was, therefore, to study the effect of support group intervention on sick leave, health care utilization and health economy.
Material and Methods: Of 382 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer, 191 + 191 patients were randomized to an intervention group or to a routine control group respectively.
The intervention group received support intervention on a residential basis for one week, followed by four days of follow-up two months later. The support intervention included informative-educational sections, relaxation training, mental visualization and non-verbal communication. Patients answered a questionnaire at baseline, 2, 6 and 12 months about sick leave and health care utilization.
Result There was a trend towards longer sick leave and more health care utilization in the intervention group. The difference in total costs was statistically significantly higher in the intervention group after 12 months (p = 0.0036)
Conclusion There was no economic benefit from intervention in its present form. In fact we saw a tendency towards longer sick leave and more health care utilization and we could show that the total cost in the intervention group was actually higher and that this difference was statistically significant after twelve months.
Key words: Support intervention, breast cancer, return to work, sick leave, health care utilization, health economy
Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-12-09.
Volume 72, Issue 24 Supplement
