Abstract 3846: On the way to specialized cancer rehabilitation in Switzerland: Preliminary results of a naturalistic controlled comparative cohort study
Authors: Ture Maria , Jenewein Josef , Angst Felix , Aeschlimann André , Martin-Soelch Chantal , Schnyder Ulrich , Renner Christoph , Walt Heinrich 
Published: May 2015

Introduction

Various international studies show the effectiveness of cancer rehabilitation programs. In Switzerland, however, as compared to other Western countries, only little is known about physical health and Quality of life (QoL) in patients who undergo cancer rehabilitation programs. Cancer patients are at increased risk to develop both poor physical conditions and psychological distress leading to negative QoL. Thus, research indicates social support and self-efficacy as personal resources with positive effects on QoL. The aim of this study is to compare the state and change of physical health and QoL of cancer patients with and without rehabilitation.

Methods

We perform a multicenter naturalistic, comparative cohort study on quality of life and distress using standardized questionnaires and including patients aged ≥ 18 years with a diagnosis of carcinoma, lymphoma, sarcoma or melanoma. A dementia screening by the MMSE (Mini Mental Status Examination) is performed in patients aged ≥ 50 years to ensure ability for completing the questionnaires. Allocation to rehabilitation is decided by the physician of the acute management in agreement with the patient. The intervention group undergoes rehabilitation and is compared to two control groups: Control group 1 consists of patients with medical indication for rehabilitation but will not undergo rehabilitation, whereas in control group 2 there is no indication for rehabilitation. Data are collected at the beginning (T1) and end of hospitalization (T2), at the end of rehabilitation (T3), and three months after (T4).

Results

We included 44 patients (28 female and 16 male) with the major groups consisting of breast and head and neck cancer and plan to expand up to a number of 132 patients. Preliminary analysis showed that values for QoL varied significantly with impairment between T1 and T2 (p &lt; 0.001) and improvement between T2 and T3 (p = 0.002). T3 values stay significantly below T1 values (p &lt; 0.001). This was similar when physical and functional well-being was analyzed. Post rehabilitation assessments are currently ongoing.

Conclusions

Evaluation of the natural trajectory of cancer treatment course and comparison of cohorts with and without rehabilitation will provide outcome and effect data that are not known up so far in Switzerland. The results may help to improve and specify cancer rehabilitation interventions and to develop appropriate guidelines for referral to post-acute management. (Supported by the Zurzach Rehabilitation Foundation SPA, Bad Zurzach, Switzerland).

Citation Format: Maria Ture, Josef Jenewein, Felix Angst, André Aeschlimann, Chantal Martin-Soelch, Ulrich Schnyder, Christoph Renner, Heinrich Walt. On the way to specialized cancer rehabilitation in Switzerland: Preliminary results of a naturalistic controlled comparative cohort study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3846. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3846