Article

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.
CI - Copyright (c) 2017 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.