iCanWork: A Randomized Controlled Trial

binary variable (Yes/No)

The Patient Reported Outcome Information System (PROMIS) - Preference scale is a valid, 31-item tool to measure 7 domains of quality of life (i.e., cognition, depression, fatigue, pain, physical function, sleep disturbance, and ability to participate in social roles and activities). Each of these items is measured on five levels (e.g., "never", "rarely", "sometimes", "often", "always" or "not at all", "a little bit", "somewhat", "quite a bit", and "very much"). The responses (1 to 5 on a Likert scale) were transformed into PROMIS theta scores (mean = 0 ± SD = 1) or T-Scores (mean = 50 ± SD = 10). For cognition, physical function, and ability to participate in social roles and activities, higher T-Scores (thetas) indicate more desirable outcomes. For depression, fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbance, lower T-Scores (thetas) indicate more desirable outcomes.

The Readiness for Return-To-Work Scale is a validated 22-item measure of the readiness to return to work stages and consists of two scales; Scale A contains 13 items for individuals who are not working and Scale B includes 9 items for individuals who are working either part or full time. Each item is scored using a 5 point scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree) representing a specific readiness stage: Pre-contemplation; Contemplation; Prepared for Action-Self-evaluative; and Prepared for Action-Behavioural for those not back at work and Uncertain Maintenance or Proactive Maintenance for those who are currently working. The scale provides a final score for each readiness stage by taking the mean of the items that create that factor. Higher scores associated with a readiness stage indicate higher level of beliefs associated with that stage.

Work capacity will be measured with the 7-item validated Work Capacity Index which measures seven domains related to the level of work capacity namely: 1) current work capacity compared to pre-cancer work capacity; 2) current work capacity compared to job demands; 3) number of physician-diagnosed health problems; 4) work disability due to illnesses; 5) days of absenteeism since stopping work due to cancer; 6) prognosis of anticipated work capacity for the next two years; and 7) psychological resources. The score of the 7 domains is summed ranging from 7 to 49 with a higher score indicating a greater capacity for work.