Evaluation of a comprehensive rehabilitation program for post-treatment patients with cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of a rehabilitation program on quality of life, fatigue, fear of movement (kinesiophobia), distress, anxiety, depression, and physical condition.


METHODS
Pretest/post-test.


METHODS
An outpatient rehabilitation setting in the Oncology Centre at the University Hospital Brussels in Belgium.


METHODS
36 patients who had completed cancer treatment with a curative potential.


METHODS
Participants completed a questionnaire and underwent a physical test at baseline and at the end of the program. The measurement instruments used included the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-Core 30, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, RAND-36, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Distress Barometer, and Tecumseh Step Test.


METHODS
Quality of life, fatigue, kinesiophobia, distress, anxiety, depression, and physical condition.


RESULTS
Significant improvement was observed in quality of life (p < 0.001), physical condition (p = 0.007), fatigue (p = 0.01), and depression (p = 0.012). In contrast, kinesiophobia (p = 0.229), distress (p = 0.344), and anxiety (p = 0.101) did not change significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
A general and significant improvement in all aspects affecting quality of life and rehabilitation was observed, but less so for aspects that might be influenced by prognostic concerns. The relative contribution of the program versus spontaneous recovery and long-term impact need to be determined further in a prospective randomized study.


CONCLUSIONS
Multidisciplinary rehabilitation should become part of the total care plan for patients with cancer.
Department of Cancer Rehabilitation, Oncology Centre, University Hospital Brussels, Belgium. sophie.hanssens@uzbrussel.be
Sophie
S
Hanssens
Rik
R
Luyten
Christiaan
C
Watthy
Christel
C
Fontaine
Lore
L
Decoster
Catherine
C
Baillon
Fabienne
F
Trullemans
Aisha
A
Cortoos
Jacques
J
De Grève
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001530:Belgium; D003863:Depression / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires