Work ability following breast cancer – the MyHealth randomized controlled trial

Trine Allerslev 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 Allerslev 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 for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › 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.

Original language	English
Journal	Acta Oncologica
Volume	64
Pages (from-to)	34-39
ISSN	0284-186X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42221
Publication status	Published - 2025

Keywords

breast cancer
Randomized controlled trial
work ability

Documents & Links

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

Open Access VersionFinal published version, 509 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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

@article{e5e051b76f554f61a2dc9c36b784be64,

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

abstract = "Background and purposeWe 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 methodsA 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). ResultsWork 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). InterpretationThe 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 = "breast cancer, Randomized controlled trial, work ability",

author = "Horsb{\o}l, {Trine Allerslev} 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",

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

language = "English",

volume = "64",

pages = "34--39",

journal = "Acta Oncologica",

issn = "0284-186X",

publisher = "Medical Journals Sweden AB",

}

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, vol. 64, pp. 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 Allerslev

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

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Background and purposeWe 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 methodsA 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). ResultsWork 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). InterpretationThe 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 purposeWe 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 methodsA 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). ResultsWork 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). InterpretationThe 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 - breast cancer

KW - Randomized controlled trial

KW - work ability

U2 - 10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42221

DO - 10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42221

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39775013

AN - SCOPUS:85215090532

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

Keywords

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