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Patient experiences of a physiotherapy-led multidisciplinary rehabilitative intervention after successful treatment for oesophago-gastric cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

To qualitatively explore the perceived impact of a 12-week rehabilitative intervention for oesophago-gastric cancer survivors on their physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Methods

Of the 21 participants who completed the intervention, 19 took part in a semi-structured focus group interview. Four audio-taped focus groups were held, ranging in size from two to eight participants. Focus groups were transcribed and analysed using a descriptive qualitative approach.

Results

At recruitment, participants were 23.5 ± 15.2 months post-surgery and all had suboptimal fitness levels. Participants reported improvements in their physical capacity and ability to carry out activities of daily living during the intervention. These improvements led to increased confidence and social connectivity. Other participants were a valuable source of information and reassurance, while support from family members was variable. Future interventions should educate participants on how to maintain gains achieved during the intervention.

Conclusions

Participating in an exercise-based multidisciplinary rehabilitative intervention reduces isolation and helps oesophago-gastric cancer survivors to safely negotiate their physical, emotional and social needs as they move further down the path of recovery.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the support and assistance of the Wellcome Trust HRB Clinical Research Facility, which is a dedicated environment for the conduct of research activities in St. James’ Hospital. The authors also wish to thank the study participants for kindly agreeing to take time to participate in this study.

Funding

This study was funded by the Health Research Board (grant number HRA-POR-2014-535).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin 8, Ireland

    A. E. Bennett

  2. Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin 8, Ireland

    L. O’Neill & J. Hussey

  3. Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin 8, Ireland

    D. Connolly & L. Boland

  4. School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin 8, Ireland

    E. M. Guinan

  5. School of Biological Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland

    S. L. Doyle

  6. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin 8, Ireland

    J. O’Sullivan & J. V. Reynolds

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  1. A. E. Bennett
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  2. L. O’Neill
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  3. D. Connolly
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  4. E. M. Guinan
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  5. L. Boland
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  6. S. L. Doyle
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  7. J. O’Sullivan
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  8. J. V. Reynolds
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  9. J. Hussey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. E. Bennett.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval was granted by the St James’s Hospital-Tallaght Hospital joint ethics committee.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

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Bennett, A.E., O’Neill, L., Connolly, D. et al. Patient experiences of a physiotherapy-led multidisciplinary rehabilitative intervention after successful treatment for oesophago-gastric cancer. Support Care Cancer 26, 2615–2623 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4112-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4112-6

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