Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Unit of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, with Transplant Surgery, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine Relevance (CHIMOMO), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Cancer Med. 2024 Aug;13(15):e70022. doi: 10.1002/cam4.70022.
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthcare organizations, necessitating a rapid transition from in-person to virtual care. Our study explored the feasibility of a mixed in-person/telerehabilitation intervention for cancer patients and its effects on cancer-related fatigue (CRF), quality of life (QoL), physical function, patient satisfaction, and perceived usefulness.
TRACE 2020 is an observational prospective study that enrolled adult cancer patients, between January 2021 and March 2023, who were eligible for a rehabilitation program to be provided also in telerehabilitation. Patients were assessed at baseline and after the rehabilitation program. Adherence to sessions, reasons for non-adherence and adverse events were collected.
Of the 23 patients enrolled, 87% received a mixed intervention, with an average of 60% in-person sessions and 40% telerehabilitation sessions. Adherence was very high (91%). Evaluation scales showed an improvement in CRF, QoL, and lower limb strength and a relevant increase in patients' level of physical activity (PA). Most patients reported good satisfaction; the few criticisms mainly concerned difficulties in connectivity, lack of physical contact and difficulties in understanding how to perform exercises during telerehabilitation sessions. The physiotherapist underlined the usefulness of the innovative approach and suggested ways to facilitate future implementation.
A mixed intervention including telerehabilitation is feasible and accepted by cancer patients. It may have a positive effect on their CRF, QoL, and level of PA and render patient care more flexible. The findings suggest what characteristics the target population for telerehabilitation should have, in order to integrate telerehabilitation in standard care for cancer patients.
COVID-19 大流行对医疗保健组织产生了影响，需要迅速从面对面护理转向虚拟护理。我们的研究探讨了一种混合的面对面/远程康复干预措施在癌症患者中的可行性，及其对癌症相关疲劳（CRF）、生活质量（QoL）、身体功能、患者满意度和感知有用性的影响。
TRACE 2020 是一项观察性前瞻性研究，纳入了 2021 年 1 月至 2023 年 3 月期间符合康复计划条件且也可通过远程康复提供康复计划的成年癌症患者。患者在基线和康复计划后进行评估。收集了对治疗的依从性、不依从的原因和不良事件。
在纳入的 23 名患者中，87%接受了混合干预，其中面对面治疗的平均比例为 60%，远程康复的比例为 40%。治疗的依从性非常高（91%）。评估量表显示 CRF、QoL 和下肢力量得到改善，患者的身体活动（PA）水平也有显著提高。大多数患者报告满意度良好；少数批评主要涉及网络连接困难、缺乏身体接触以及在远程康复治疗期间难以理解如何进行锻炼。物理治疗师强调了这种创新方法的有用性，并提出了一些方法来促进未来的实施。
包括远程康复的混合干预措施是可行的，并且被癌症患者接受。它可能对 CRF、QoL 和 PA 水平产生积极影响，并使患者护理更加灵活。研究结果表明，为了将远程康复纳入癌症患者的标准护理中，远程康复的目标人群应具有哪些特征。
