Patient-Reported Usefulness of Acute Cancer Rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Cancer survivors often have unmet needs, and cancer rehabilitation is becoming an integral part of the continuum of care. Understanding the needs and satisfaction of patients undergoing cancer rehabilitation is important for the development of effective programs.

Objective: To determine the overall perception of acute inpatient cancer rehabilitation usefulness.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Acute inpatient cancer rehabilitation unit at a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Participants: Patients admitted to the acute inpatient cancer rehabilitation unit from September 2014 to July 2015 were approached, and 200 patients enrolled with completed surveys.

Methods: Patients meeting study criteria were asked to complete a survey about their perception of the rehabilitation received; their attitudes and beliefs on their condition, treatment, functional independence; and their attitudes and beliefs on obtaining health information and psychosocial issues.

Main outcome measures: Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores, FIM efficiency, and results from an anonymous survey with a 22-item Likert-type scale at the end of patients' rehabilitation stay were analyzed.

Results: Of 327 patients admitted, 239 patients (73%) were approached, and 200 patients (84%) were enrolled with completed surveys. Patients agreed or strongly agreed that rehabilitation helped with improving physical function (n = 193, 97%), regaining physical independence (n = 181, 91%), and preparing to deal with self-care tasks (n = 183, 94%). Patients agreed that rehabilitation improved hope (n = 187, 94%), mood (n = 176, 84%), anxiety (n = 180, 90%), and spirituality (n = 182, 94%). FIM score improvements (from admission to discharge) and FIM efficiency (change in FIM score / length of stay) were significant in all functional domains. Overall, respondents believed that their rehabilitation stay was extremely good (n = 128, 64%) or very good (n = 60, 30%).

Conclusions: Patients perceived their rehabilitation stay as beneficial in multiple respects. Significant improvements in FIM measurements were also found.

Level of evidence: IV.