Effects of a step-by-step inpatient rehabilitation programme on quality of life
in breast cancer patients. A prospective randomised study.
Author(s): Hartmann U(1), Muche R, Reuss-Borst M.
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Reha-Klinik Am Kurpark, Bad Kissingen, Deutschland.
u.hartmann@rehaklinik-am-kurpark.de
Publication date & source: 2007, Onkologie. , 30(4):177-82
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare a conventional oncological
inpatient rehabilitation programme with an inpatient step-by-step rehabilitation
programme with regard to quality of life in breast cancer patients.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women with the diagnosis of breast cancer were randomly
assigned to either the step-by-step programme (group A: 3-week rehabilitation
plus 4 and 8 months later a 1-week sojourn each time) or the conventional
rehabilitation programme (group B: 4- week stay and no further interventions
afterwards). Quality of life was assessed with the QLQ-C30 of the EORTC at t0
(beginning of the study), t1 (end of 3- or 4-week stay) and t2 (12 months after
t0, end of study).
RESULTS: Between t0 and t1, a tendency (0.1 > p = 0.05) could be shown in group B
towards better improvement in global quality of life and emotional function. In
the subgroup of patients that had impaired functions of quality of life at t0,
superiority in group B reached significance (p < 0.05) for emotional and
cognitive function at t1. Between t1 and t2, cognitive function improved further
in group A, but diminished in group B. For the subgroup of patients with impaired
cognitive function at t0, this difference between both groups became significant
(p = 0.0098).
CONCLUSIONS: Although not generally superior to conventional inpatient
rehabilitation programmes, the analysed step-by- step rehabilitation provided
marked benefits for patients with cognitive impairments.
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