Embedding rehabilitation into cancer care continuum: an implementation study.
Fary Khan, Bhasker Amatya, Alaeldin Elmalik and 3 others
PMID 39569420WHAT IT FOUND
Embedding a structured rehabilitation toolkit into routine cancer care improved patient function and quality of life scores from admission to discharge.
Staff reported better communication and streamlined referrals, though time constraints and access to the electronic tool remained barriers.
Key findings
01Patient function scores on the ClinFIT tool improved significantly from admission to discharge, with a medium effect size.
02Quality of life scores (EQ-5D-5L and FACT-G) also showed significant improvement from admission to discharge.
03Staff identified time and resource constraints, along with limited access to the assessment tool in the electronic medical record, as persistent barriers to implementation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
There was no control group, so it is impossible to know if the improvements were due to the Rehab-Toolkit, natural recovery, or other hospital care. The study was conducted at a single centre with a small sample of 50 patients, mostly with colorectal cancer, limiting generalizability. The 'Maintenance' phase of the RE-AIM framework was not evaluated, so long-term sustainability of the changes is unknown. Cost analysis was not performed.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The Hospital Executive sponsored some of the education sessions.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the significant improvements in function and quality of life as proof that the Rehab-Toolkit caused them. Because there was no control group, these changes could reflect natural recovery or other aspects of routine hospital care.