Cancer Res Treat.  2015 Jul;47(3):370-378. 10.4143/crt.2014.084.

Current Practice and Barriers in Cancer Rehabilitation: Perspectives of Korean Physiatrists

• Yang EJ
• Chung SH
• Jeon JY
• Seo KS
• Shin HI
• Hwang JH
• Lim JY

• KMID: 2148485
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2014.084

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to assess clinical practice and barriers associated with cancer rehabilitation from the perspective of Korean physiatrists.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
All active members of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine were invited to complete an online survey developed after focus group discussions.
RESULTS
A total of 97 physiatrists (72 males and 25 females) in Korea completed the survey. Of these, 77% reported familiarity with the term 'cancer survivors.' More than 50% of respondents reported that they provided rehabilitation services for patients with breast cancer (61.9%), brain tumors (64.9%), and spinal tumors (63.9%), whereas 86.6% of respondents reported that they had never or rarely provided rehabilitation programs for patients with gynecological, colorectal, or prostate cancer. Physiatrists who received referrals from a well-organized cooperative referral system reported providing services such as exercise programs for patients with gynecological cancer (odds ratio [OR], 2.16; p=0.044) as well as education regarding lymphedema (OR, 1.81; p=0.047) and neuropathic pain (OR, 1.96; p=0.026).
CONCLUSION
Although most of the physiatrists surveyed believed that they should contribute to the management of cancer patients, they considered themselves ill equipped to provide appropriate rehabilitation services. This lack of understanding of the effectiveness of rehabilitation services for cancer patients and absence of a cooperative referral system are the major barriers to providing rehabilitation services to cancer survivors in Korea.

Keyword

Physical and rehabilitation medicine; Data collection; Professional practice

MeSH Terms

Brain Neoplasms
Breast Neoplasms
Data Collection
Education
Focus Groups
Humans
Korea
Lymphedema
Male
Neuralgia
Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
Professional Practice
Prostatic Neoplasms
Recognition (Psychology)
Referral and Consultation
Rehabilitation*
Survivors

Reference

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