An allied health rehabilitation program for patients following surgery for abdomino-pelvic cancer: a feasibility and pilot clinical study.

Helena C Frawley, Kuan-Yin Lin, Catherine L Granger, Rosemary Higgins, Michael Butler, Linda Denehy

Journal: Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer 2020;28(3):1335-1350

PMID: 31250182

Full Text on Springer View on PubMed

Abstract

PURPOSE

To investigate the feasibility of conducting a rehabilitation program for patients following surgery for abdomino-pelvic cancer.

METHODS

A non-randomised controlled before-and-after study. Patients who had undergone surgery for stage I-III abdomino-pelvic cancer (colorectal, gynaecological or prostate cancer) were recruited. The rehabilitation group (n = 84) received an 8-week, bi-weekly education and exercise program conducted by a physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, health psychologist and dietician, supplemented by exercise diaries and telephone coaching sessions. The comparator group (n = 104) completed postal questionnaires only. Feasibility measures, functional exercise capacity, muscle strength, physical activity levels, pelvic floor symptoms, anxiety and depression, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-efficacy were measured at baseline (time 1), immediately post-intervention (time 2) and at 6 months post-baseline (time 3) and compared within- and between-groups.

RESULTS

The consent rate to the rehabilitation program was 24%. Eighty-one percent of the rehabilitation group attended 85-100% of 16 scheduled sessions. Overall satisfaction with the program was 96%. Functional exercise capacity, handgrip strength in males, bowel symptoms, physical activity levels, depression and HRQoL were significantly improved in the rehabilitation group (p < 0.05) at time 2. The improvements in all these outcomes were sustained at time 3. The rehabilitation group had significantly improved physical activity levels, depression and HRQoL compared with the comparator group at times 2 and 3 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Recruitment to this oncology rehabilitation program was more difficult than expected; however, attendance and patient satisfaction were high. This program had positive effects on several important clinical outcomes in patients following abdomino-pelvic cancer treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ANZCTR 12614000580673.

Address: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University, 47 - 49 Moorooduc Highway, PO Box 527, Frankston, Victoria, 3199, Australia. [email protected].; Centre for Allied Health Research and Education, Cabrini Institute, 154 Wattletree Road, Malvern, Victoria, 3144, Australia. [email protected].; Department of Physiotherapy, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University, 47 - 49 Moorooduc Highway, PO Box 527, Frankston, Victoria, 3199, Australia.; Centre for Allied Health Research and Education, Cabrini Institute, 154 Wattletree Road, Malvern, Victoria, 3144, Australia.; Department of Physical Therapy, National Cheng Kung University, No.1, Ta-Hsueh Road, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.; Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, Australia.; Department of Physiotherapy, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, 300 Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia.; Australian Centre for Heart Health, 75-79 Chetwynd Street, North Melbourne, Victoria, 3051, Australia.; Alpha Crucis Group, P.O. Box 4103, Langwarrin, Victoria, 3910, Australia.; Cancer Allied Health Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, 3000, Australia.

DOI: 10.1007/s00520-019-04931-w

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?term=AREA%5BRefe...

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04931-w

MeSH Terms: Abdominal Neoplasms, Aged, Digestive System Surgical Procedures, Exercise Therapy, Feasibility Studies, Female, Hand Strength, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Satisfaction, Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Neoplasms, Pilot Projects, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Treatment Outcome, Urogenital Surgical Procedures