Physical functioning and quality of life after cancer rehabilitation

Author: van Weert E//Hoekstra-Weebers JE//Grol BM//Otter R////
Affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. Evw@IKN.nl
Conference/Journal: Int J Rehabil Res
Date published: 2004
Other: Volume ID: 27 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 27-35 , Word Count: 144


In order to overcome cancer-related problems and to improve quality of life, an intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme for cancer patients was developed. We hypothesised that this six-week intensive rehabilitation programme would result in physiological improvements and improvement in quality of life. Thirty-four patients with cancer-related physical and psychosocial problems were the subjects of a prospective observational study. A six-week intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme consisted of four components: individual exercise, sports, psycho-education, and information. Measurements (symptom-limited bicycle ergometry performance, muscle force and quality of life [RAND-36, RSCL, MFI]) were performed before (T0) and after six weeks of rehabilitation (T1). After the intensive rehabilitation programme, statistically significant improvements were found in symptom-limited bicycle ergometry performance, muscle force, and several domains of the RAND-36, RSCL and MFI. The six-week intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme had immediate beneficial effects on physiological variables, on quality of life and on fatigue.8:11:57}