J Korean Med Sci.  2011 May;26(5):619-624. 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.5.619.

Cancer Rehabilitation: Experience, Symptoms, and Needs

• Kim YM
• Kim DY
• Chun MH
• Jeon JY
• Yun GJ
• Lee MS

• KMID: 1777859
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.5.619

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the experience of cancer patients undergoing rehabilitation, to identify symptoms associated with rehabilitation from cancer, and to assess the need for rehabilitation services for cancer patients. Cancer patients (n = 402) at the Asan Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) were enrolled from June to September 2008. A chart review was used to collect demographic and clinical data, including type of cancer, current treatment, time from initial diagnosis to screening, and cancer stage. Each participant provided informed consent and was then given a questionnaire that asked about experience with rehabilitation, symptoms associated with rehabilitation, and the need for different types of rehabilitation services. Clinicians recommended rehabilitation for 8.5% of patients, and 6.7% underwent rehabilitation. Among study patients, 83.8% had one or more symptoms associated with rehabilitation, and 71.6% of patients with symptoms wanted rehabilitation management. The need for rehabilitation was associated with the presence of metastasis, advanced cancer stage, time to diagnosis, and type of current treatment. Our results provide specific information about particular functional symptoms and the rehabilitative needs of subgroups of cancer patients. It is suggested to develope and implement rehabilitation programs for cancer patients.

Keyword

Neoplasms; Rehabilitation; Symptom; Need

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Demography
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Needs Assessment/*statistics & numerical data
Neoplasms/*rehabilitation
Questionnaires
Republic of Korea

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Rehabilitation management of studied cancer patients. ROM, range of motion; ADL, activity of daily living.

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  Fig. 2 Symptoms associated with rehabilitation and the need of rehabilitation for each symptom. LROM, limited range of motion; ADL, activity of daily living.

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  Fig. 3 Need for rehabilitation as a function of current status of cancer treatment. The ordinate indicates estimated β from the multivariate linear regression analysis, with a high estimated β indicating strong need for rehabilitation. Dx, diagnosis; Op, operation; Tx, treatment; F.U. on NED, follow up on no evidence of disease.

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