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Are different groups of cancer patients offered rehabilitation to the same extent? A report from the population-based study “The Cancer Patient’s World”

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Abstract

Purpose

The number of cancer survivors is growing and cancer is now viewed as a chronic disease. This has highlighted the importance of providing adequate rehabilitation to prevent physical, psychological, and social sequelae of cancer. However, it is unclear whether those in need of rehabilitation are offered this.

Methods

Using patient–observer agreement and cognitive interviews, we validated a seven-item questionnaire designed to assess cancer patients’ perception of the sufficiency of the offered rehabilitation. A cross-sectional study among 2,202 Danish cancer patients affiliated with hospitals was carried out.

Results

The questionnaire was well understood, indicating good validity. In the cross-sectional study, 1,490 patients (68%) participated. Up to 39% of cancer patients did not receive the physical rehabilitation they felt they needed. About half of those who had felt a need to talk to a psychologist were offered this. Insufficiency of other rehabilitation offers was reported by 10–24%. Age most consistently predicted insufficient rehabilitation; higher age predicted insufficient information about support from other sources (than hospital staff) and younger age predicted lack of help to manage symptoms, return to everyday life, and deal with financial and especially work-related consequences. We found no consistent signs of traditional social inequality in the perception of rehabilitation, but we observed some signs of social inequality for unemployed or divorced/separated patients.

Conclusions

Age predicted sufficiency of the rehabilitation in two directions, possibly reflecting different needs in younger and older patients. When tailoring rehabilitation programs, it should be ensured that the different needs are met.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by a grant from the Danish Cancer Society, Psychosocial Research Foundation (Grant PP06017). The sponsor had no role in study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the paper for publication. None of the authors have a financial relationship with the organization that sponsored the research. The authors have full control of all primary data and we agree to allow the journal to review the data if required.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Research Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lone Ross, Morten Aagaard Petersen, Anna Thit Johnsen, Louise Hyldborg Lundstrøm & Mogens Groenvold

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  1. Lone Ross
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  2. Morten Aagaard Petersen
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  3. Anna Thit Johnsen
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  4. Louise Hyldborg Lundstrøm
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  5. Mogens Groenvold
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Correspondence to Lone Ross.

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Ross, L., Petersen, M.A., Johnsen, A.T. et al. Are different groups of cancer patients offered rehabilitation to the same extent? A report from the population-based study “The Cancer Patient’s World”. Support Care Cancer 20, 1089–1100 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1189-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1189-6

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