Evaluation of consultation-based rehabilitation for hospitalized cancer patients with functional impairment.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate prospectively the effect of consultation-based interdisciplinary rehabilitation in hospitalized cancer patients.


METHODS
Three hundred forty-one hospitalized patients with cancer were referred to the Cancer Adaptation Team (interdisciplinary rehabilitation services) over an 8-month period. Functional status at enrollment and dismissal was evaluated with a Barthel Mobility Index and Karnofsky Performance Status scale. Quality-of-life parameters were evaluated with specifically designed questionnaires.


RESULTS
Two hundred ninety patients met the inclusion criteria. One hundred eighty-nine survived and completed the study. Significant functional improvement was observed between enrollment and dismissal on both functional indexes (P< or =.001). Quality-of-life questionnaires, while limited by low completion rate, showed significant improvement on multiple parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant functional gains were observed in hospitalized cancer patients who received interdisciplinary rehabilitation services on a consultation basis.
Sabers
S R
SR
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.
Kokal
J E
JE
Girardi
J C
JC
Philpott
C L
CL
Basford
J R
JR
Therneau
T M
TM
Schmidt
K D
KD
Gamble
G L
GL
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome