A Pilot Tele-rehabilitation Trial for Breast Cancer Survivors

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
Breast cancer is the leading cancer affecting women in Singapore. Breast cancer survivors commonly experience declined physical function and quality of life, due to their upper limb morbidity and wound issues post-surgery. Rehabilitation therapy can address the aforementioned issues that the survivors may experience during their recovery. No therapy however, can be effective if patients do not utilize them. Home-based telehealth (e.g., tele-rehabilitation) self-managed by patients and guided by healthcare professionals can potentially improve the service use and recovery. This study aims to understand the lived experience of post-mastectomy tele-rehabilitation and recovery process among female patients who undergo a unilateral mastectomy for breast cancer.

Official Title
-----------------
A Pilot Feasibility Study of a Tele-rehabilitation System Among Women Who Undergo a Unilateral Mastectomy for Breast Cancer

Conditions
-----------------
Breast Cancer Female

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Other: Receiving routine rehabilitation care via tele-rehabilitation system


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Female 21 years and over Underwent a recent unilateral breast surgery (wide excision or simple mastectomy) with lymph nodes removed Speak and write English or Mandarin; No psychiatric history or chronic psychiatric condition as assessed by referring clinician Exclusion Criteria: Having breast reconstruction Having legal blindness or severe visual impairment Having life expectancy of less than three months (12- weeks) Having previous upper limb injury or conditions that limit passive ranges of shoulder flexion (<150°), elbow extension/flexion (0/145°)

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 99 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Tele-rehabilitation<br>Patients who choose tele-rehabilitation | Other: Receiving routine rehabilitation care via tele-rehabilitation system<br>* Drain care education, self-massage techniques and exercise (PT and OT)<br>|
| Usual care<br>Patients who choose usual (rehabilitation) care | |

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The experience of rehabilitation (i.e., drain care, exercise and massage) | We will interview our participants about their experience of going through a rehabilitation process. This is qualitative data. | 12 weeks from the baseline assessment | 
| Shoulder range of motion | Shoulder ranger of motion will be measured in degree. | Pre rehabilitation (week 0) and post-rehabilitation (week 12) | 
| Arm circumference | Arm circumference will be measured in cm | Pre rehabilitation (week 0) and post-rehabilitation (week 12) |