Digital support for return to work in cancer survivors: development, implementation and outcomes from a single-arm observational service evaluation

Approximately a third of UK cancer survivors employed at diagnosis do not return to work, at substantial cost to individuals and the economy. A digital vocational rehabilitation intervention to support return to work (RTW) in cancer survivors was developed and launched. This paper describes the development process and presents an initial service evaluation of the RTW programme. A hybrid digital health platform was developed incorporating multidisciplinary support coordinated by specialist cancer nurses. The intervention included initial digital assessment, personalised care planning, virtual consultations with rehabilitation professionals and employer engagement support. Between April 2024 and September 2025 patient-reported outcome measures (MYCaW, RTW-SE, fatigue scores) were collected at baseline and programme completion. 87 participants with diverse cancer types engaged in the platform. Improvements were observed in MYCaW Concern 1 (5.06 to 3.08, p ≤ 0.001, d = 1.40), Concern 2 (4.76 to 3.09, p ≤ 0.001, d = 1.26), and wellbeing scores (3.36 to 2.62, p ≤ 0.001, d = 0.53). Psychological support was the most frequently accessed service (73.6% of participants), followed by practical (59.8%) and physical support (47.1%). 72% of participants RTW (expected or actual resumption of paid employment). A multidisciplinary digital RTW intervention demonstrated feasibility and positive outcomes for cancer survivors with improved wellbeing scores and evidence of RTW. Digital platforms potentially offer scalable, accessible solutions to address the complex vocational rehabilitation needs of this growing population. Not applicable.