Psychological Interventions to Facilitate Employment Outcomes for Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: The objective was to examine experimental and quasi-experimental studies about interventions that (i) included behavioral, psychological, educational, or vocational components; (ii) involved cancer survivors aged 18 years or older; and (iii) assessed employment outcomes. Methods: The aims were both to describe the variety of interventions that have been studied using rigorous methods and to estimate intervention effects using systematic review and meta-analysis methodologies. Results: We found 12 studies evaluating the effects of psychosocial interventions on the employment of cancer survivors (N = 2,151). Overall, there were positive effects on employment status but no evidence of an effect on hours worked and sick leave. Discussion: Despite the positive effect of psychosocial interventions, methodological shortcomings of the included studies overall make it likely that there was bias in the results and too few studies to provide sufficient evidence to recommend particular practices. This review brings attention to the need for additional rigorous studies.