Development of a prediction model for occupational satisfaction among cancer patients following counseling in German psychosocial cancer counseling centers

Abstract

Abstract A prognostic model was developed and internally validated to predict satisfaction with the occupational situation among cancer patients receiving psychosocial counseling regarding return to work (RTW). Data were collected from outpatient cancer counseling centers in Germany and included individuals who had sought counseling on work-related issues at different stages of their illness. Satisfaction with the occupational situation was measured using a single-item scale. LASSO regression with cross-validation and bootstrapping was applied for predictor selection. The final model ( n = 259) identified satisfaction with life, baseline satisfaction with the occupational situation, and higher household and personal income as positive predictors, while workplace conflicts and psychological distress were negative predictors. The model showed moderate predictive accuracy (R 2 = 0.29, RMSE = 2.55) and good calibration-in-the-large (predicted: 5.45; observed: 5.45). The model may support the identification of cancer survivors likely to report low satisfaction with the occupational situation following psychosocial counseling. External validation is required to assess generalizability. A web-based tool was developed to support application in counseling settings.