Cristina Kline-Quiroz, Cody Andrews, Patrick Martone, James Thomas Pastrnak, Katherine Power, Sean R Smith, Eric Wisotzky
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Cancer survivors experience a high prevalence of functional impairments. Rehabilitation interventions include an expansive array of services that can help optimize function, address pain, decrease symptom burden, and improve quality of life. Nonetheless, rehabilitation services remain underutilized. Thus, it is important to enhance the understanding of and establish guidelines for specific rehabilitation disciplines and interventions.
Methods: This is a gap analysis of rehabilitation recommendations in published oncology guidelines from selected nationally recognized organizations. Symptom-specific guidelines and cancer type-specific guidelines were analyzed for inclusion of common functional impairments (fatigue, pain, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive dysfunction, and lymphedema) and the rehabilitation discipline recommendations.
Results: The prevalence of recommendations for rehabilitation in cancer type-specific guidelines was 29%, and was higher in symptom-specific guidelines at 60%. However, the frequency of specific rehabilitation disciplines (physiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and rehabilitation psychology/neuropsychology) was notably lower. Overall rehabilitation was mentioned in 33% and physiatry in 18%. Nonrehabilitation specialties were recommended in 18% of the guidelines. No specialty referral was endorsed in 53% of guidelines in which 1 of 5 symptoms were discussed. This highlights the relative paucity of recommendations for specific rehabilitation disciplines in oncology guidelines. The more general term "rehabilitation" was included more frequently but lacks critical guidance for oncology providers. Other crucial rehabilitation services may be underrecognized and underutilized. Rehabilitation specialists must work to improve patient access and the presence of indicated specific rehabilitation disciplines and goals within guidelines.
Conclusions: Most oncology guidelines do not include specific recommendations for rehabilitation disciplines. However, including specific rehabilitation disciplines is more common in symptom-specific guidelines. With a stronger evidence base and increased involvement of rehabilitation specialists in guideline development, rehabilitation recommendations in oncologic guidelines may be more precise, leading to improved utilization of rehabilitation services to optimize function and quality of life.
期刊介绍:
JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network is a peer-reviewed medical journal read by over 25,000 oncologists and cancer care professionals nationwide. This indexed publication delivers the latest insights into best clinical practices, oncology health services research, and translational medicine. Notably, JNCCN provides updates on the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology® (NCCN Guidelines®), review articles elaborating on guideline recommendations, health services research, and case reports that spotlight molecular insights in patient care.
Guided by its vision, JNCCN seeks to advance the mission of NCCN by serving as the primary resource for information on NCCN Guidelines®, innovation in translational medicine, and scientific studies related to oncology health services research. This encompasses quality care and value, bioethics, comparative and cost effectiveness, public policy, and interventional research on supportive care and survivorship.
JNCCN boasts indexing by prominent databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed, Chemical Abstracts, Embase, EmCare, and Scopus, reinforcing its standing as a reputable source for comprehensive information in the field of oncology.