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Neuropsychological test performance and self-reported cognitive functioning associated with work-related outcomes in occupationally active cancer survivors with cognitive complaints

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess cognitive functioning in occupationally active non-central nervous system cancer survivors with cognitive complaints using neuropsychological tests, and to investigate the association between (1) formally assessed cognitive functioning and self-reported work-related outcomes and (2) self-reported cognitive functioning at work and self-reported work-related outcomes.

Methods

Baseline data of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial (n = 279) were used. Associations between neuropsychological test performance (Amsterdam Cognition Scan) and self-reported cognitive functioning (Cognitive Symptom Checklist-work) with work ability (Work Ability Index) and work functioning (Work Role Functioning Questionnaire) were examined using multivariate linear regression.

Results

Thirty percent of cancer survivors had lower than expected performance on neuropsychological tests. Higher overall neuropsychological test performance was associated with better work ability (Cohen’s f2 = 0.014) and physical functioning at work (Cohen’s f2 = 0.13). Furthermore, higher motor performance was associated with better work ability (Cohen’s f2 = 0.018). In addition, self-reported work-related cognitive complaints were associated with self-reported work-related outcomes (Cohen’s f2 = 0.13–0.35).

Conclusions

The percentage of cancer survivors with lower than expected performance on neuropsychological tests exceeded the percentage expected in a normal population. This neuropsychological test performance was weakly associated with various aspects of work ability and work functioning. Stronger associations were found between self-reported cognitive functioning at work with self-reported work-related outcomes.

Implications for cancer survivors.

A cognitive rehabilitation approach that specifically aims at reducing cognitive symptoms at work could be a valuable part of interventions that aim to improve work-related outcomes.

Trial registration

The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03900806) at 03 April 2019 (current status: ongoing), https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03900806?term=NCT03900806&draw=2&rank=1

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Acknowledgements

We thank cancer survivors for their participation in this study. We thank Jacobien Kieffer and Joost Agelink van Rentergem for statistical counseling.

Funding

This trial is funded by the Dutch Cancer Society (grant number NKI 2015–7937).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Kete M. Klaver & Sanne B. Schagen

  2. Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Kete M. Klaver, Saskia F. A. Duijts & Allard J. van der Beek

  3. Department of Research & Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Saskia F. A. Duijts

  4. Department of Clinical and Medical Psychology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard, The Netherlands

    Chantal A. V. Geusgens

  5. Department of Medical Oncology, GROW-School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, MC, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Maureen J. B. Aarts

  6. Department of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam University Medical Center location Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Rudolf W. H. M. Ponds

  7. Brain and Cognition Group, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Sanne B. Schagen

Authors
  1. Kete M. Klaver
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  2. Saskia F. A. Duijts
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Kete Klaver. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Kete Klaver and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sanne B. Schagen.

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Ethics approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. All procedures were reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethical Board Committee of the Netherlands Cancer Institute (METC18.0036).

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interest.

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Klaver, K.M., Duijts, S.F.A., Geusgens, C.A.V. et al. Neuropsychological test performance and self-reported cognitive functioning associated with work-related outcomes in occupationally active cancer survivors with cognitive complaints. J Cancer Surviv 18, 412–424 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-022-01223-x

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