Patient Reported Unmet Needs for Function and Supportive Occupational- and Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Interventions

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Purpose: To determine unmet functional needs in patients referred to the Palliative Care Unit at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital will be asked to fill out self reported questionnaires regarding problem intensity, problem burden and felt needs, physical functioning, emotional functioning, fatigue, sleep, distress. Furthermore patients physical function will be evaluated.

Detailed Description
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Physical functioning is found to be an important predictor for survival and physical ability 'to do what one wants' affects quality of life in cancer patients in palliative care and their spouses. Despite this, physical functioning is reported as a neglected dimension in palliative care quality of life outcome measures, and advanced cancer patients report that they do not receive the help they need. The vast majority of patients with advanced cancer described unmet palliative care needs, and with the most frequently reported problems being; fatigue (73%), limitations doing physical activities (65%), limitations in work and daily activities (58%), worry (58%), difficulties with sexuality (54%), pain (52%) and problems with concentration (43%). Furthermore, limitations in physical functioning and physical activity is a leading cause of distress and psychological problems a rehabilitative approach in palliative care integrated in the interdisciplinary interventions to the patients must be maintained throughout the entire illness trajectory from diagnosis through treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care to address such problems. However, prevalence of patient unmet needs and reported physical functioning and performance is reported to differentiate largely between palliative units. In order to address the functional needs of patients receiving specialist palliative care studies of their specific needs are required. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the patient reported unmet needs for function and supportive occupational- and physiotherapy rehabilitation interventions in the palliative unit at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet. Furthermore, we aim to investigate if observations, additional disease-specific patient reported outcomes and assessment of physical function and performance can support the unmet needs.

Official Title
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Patient Reported Unmet Needs for Function and Supportive Occupational- and Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Interventions in a Palliative Care Setting

Conditions
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Cancer, Kidney Diseases, Heart Failure, Neurologic Disorder, Liver Diseases, Pulmonary Disease, Side Effect, Quality of Life, Physical Disorder

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria : All adult patients (≥ 18 years) referred to the Palliative Care Unit at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet. Exclusion Criteria: Inability to read and understand Danish

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unmet physical functioning needs | The Three-Levels-of-Needs Questionnaire (3LNQ) | At baseline | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lower body physical function | 30 seconds Sit-To-Stand test | At baseline | 
| Hand grip strength | Maximum strength test by handgrip dynamometer | At baseline | 
| Walking endurance | Six Minute Walking Test | At baseline | 
| Health-related quality of life | EORTC QLQ-C30 | At baseline | 
| Overall distress | Distress thermometer | At baseline | 
| Psychological distress | Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) | At baseline | 
| Sleep quality | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) | At beseline | 
| Level of fatigue | Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Fatigue (FACT-F) 13 item fatigue subscale | At baseline | 
| Patients self-perception of performance in everyday living | The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) | At baseline | 
| Physical activity level | International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form | At baseline | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Palliative care, Physical functioning, Unmet needs