The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical and functional needs of hospitalized cancer patients consulted to physiotherapy and rehabilitation services.
METHODS
Total of 176 patients with various cancer diagnoses who were treated at Hacettepe University Oncology
Hospital and were consulted to physiotherapy and rehabilitation were included in this retrospective
study. Patient data regarding diagnosis, metastasis condition, and treatment types, as well as rehabilitation
needs such as performance of daily life activities, physical function deficiencies, and sensoryperception
problems were evaluated and recorded by physiotherapists.
RESULTS
Average age of the 87 male and 89 female patients included in this study was 56.25±14.53 years. According
to evaluations of performance of daily life activities, 137 (77.8%) of the participants had difficulty
with mobility, 132 (75%) had difficulty with transfer activities, and 106 (60.2%) had difficulty using
the bathroom. It was observed that 162 (92%) of the patients experienced deconditioning, 150 (85.2%)
had fatigue, and 149 (84.7%) had balance problems. In addition, 42 (24.4%) of the patients had sensory
problems.
CONCLUSION
It is important to point out that cancer patients have various forms of rehabilitation needs, including
functional deficiency, dependency in daily life activities, and sensory-perception-cognitive problems.