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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-03-2020 | Original Article

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

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

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 3/2020

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.

Available only for authorised users

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Title: An allied health rehabilitation program for patients following surgery for abdomino-pelvic cancer: a feasibility and pilot clinical study
Authors: Helena C. Frawley
Kuan-Yin Lin
Catherine L. Granger
Rosemary Higgins
Michael Butler
Linda Denehy
Publication date: 01-03-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04931-w

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