Current Practice and Barriers in Cancer Rehabilitation: Perspectives of Korean Physiatrists.
- Author:
Eun Joo YANG
1
;
Seung Hyun CHUNG
;
Jae Yong JEON
;
Kwan Sik SEO
;
Hyung Ik SHIN
;
Ji Hye HWANG
;
Jae Young LIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Physical and rehabilitation medicine; Data collection; Professional practice
- MeSH: Brain Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms; Data Collection; Education; Focus Groups; Humans; Korea; Lymphedema; Male; Neuralgia; Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine; Professional Practice; Prostatic Neoplasms; Recognition (Psychology); Referral and Consultation; Rehabilitation*; Survivors
- From:Cancer Research and Treatment 2015;47(3):370-378
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess clinical practice and barriers associated with cancer rehabilitation from the perspective of Korean physiatrists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All active members of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine were invited to complete an online survey developed after focus group discussions. RESULTS: A total of 97 physiatrists (72 males and 25 females) in Korea completed the survey. Of these, 77% reported familiarity with the term 'cancer survivors.' More than 50% of respondents reported that they provided rehabilitation services for patients with breast cancer (61.9%), brain tumors (64.9%), and spinal tumors (63.9%), whereas 86.6% of respondents reported that they had never or rarely provided rehabilitation programs for patients with gynecological, colorectal, or prostate cancer. Physiatrists who received referrals from a well-organized cooperative referral system reported providing services such as exercise programs for patients with gynecological cancer (odds ratio [OR], 2.16; p=0.044) as well as education regarding lymphedema (OR, 1.81; p=0.047) and neuropathic pain (OR, 1.96; p=0.026). CONCLUSION: Although most of the physiatrists surveyed believed that they should contribute to the management of cancer patients, they considered themselves ill equipped to provide appropriate rehabilitation services. This lack of understanding of the effectiveness of rehabilitation services for cancer patients and absence of a cooperative referral system are the major barriers to providing rehabilitation services to cancer survivors in Korea.
