The level of satisfaction and rehabilitation approach in cancer patients with completed treatments: A 5 year screening [Tedavisi tamamlanmiş kanser hastalarinda memnuniyet düzeyi ve rehabilitasyon yaklaşimi: 5 Yillik tarama]

Objective: Cancer patients encounter many problems in the post-diagnosis period and they want to establish a good contact with the treatment team in order to get better information about their condition. This study has tried to investigate in cancer patients with completed treatment the satisfaction level they derived from the treatment and the treatment team and physical therapy and rehabilitation suggestions. Materials and Methods: The archive of Medical Oncology Department comprising 4127 patients was randomly screened between the years 2000 and 2005. Charts of 228 patients with a mean age of 55,2±11,9 years who were reached via phone and who accepted to participate in the study were analysed for clinical data. The patients were questioned regarding the diagnosis, treatment, the treatment period and rehabilitation suggestions. Their satisfaction status was assessed using a Likert scale. Results: Approximately 76,9% of the patients had been informed about their diseases. A significant correlation was established between patients' educational level and satisfaction (p<0.05). The rates of satisfaction from the treatment team, the treatment itself, and communication with the physician was higher among informed patients compared to uninformed ones (p<0.05). Approximately 11,1% of the patients stated that there was disagreement between physicians who followed them up in terms of treatment options. Lymphedema development rate among operated breast cancer patients who had undergone axillary dissection was 41,3%. Shoulder limitation development rates were found to be different between those who underwent axillary dissection and who did not (p<0.05). The rate of cautiousness about protection methods was found higher in patients who were instructed on protection from lymphedema (p<0.05). Of all the evaluated patients, 42,5% had been recommended to practice general exercises. Physical therapy consultation had been requested from only 1,8% of all patients. Conclusion: It is concluded that the great majority of our patients were informed about their diseases and treatments, although without being given adequate importance, and the satisfaction rates were higher among informed patients. It has been suggested that recommendations and exercise approaches related to upper extremity in breast cancer patients might be of importance with regard to problems that may develop in these patients. We believe that our study will provide new approaches about the importance and method of informing the patients. Copyright © 2007 by Türk Tibbi Rehabilitasyon Kurumu Dernegi.