Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheung PY(1), Lui SR(1), Cheung YM(1), Lai KW(1), Cheung TK(1), Tsang HC(1), To YL(1), Mok KW(2)
Affiliation :
(1)Physiotherapy Department of North District Hospital, (2)Department of Medicine, North District Hospital
Introduction :
Physiotherapy service has been part of palliative care to patients in Palliative Care Day Centre (PC Day) of North District Hospital (NDH) since 2020. Rehabilitation, symptom control, psychosocial support and carer training are the components of physiotherapy service in PC Day.
Specifically, rehabilitation aims to improve patients’ physical independence, which is highly related to their quality of life and cancer-related fatigue. Therefore, individualized physiotherapy rehabilitation including strengthening, balance and mobility training are provided to patients in PC Day on a weekly basis.
Objectives :
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy rehabilitation in improving physical functioning and fatigue of patients under palliative care in PC Day of NDH.
Methodology :
Data of patients completing 2 months weekly sessions of physiotherapy rehabilitation from beginning of October 2020 to October 2022 were collected retrospectively. Demographics and measures including dominant handgrip strength, Modified Functional Ambulatory Category (MFAC), Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and Five Times Sit to Stand (5TSTS) results were evaluated before and after 2 months training.
Result & Outcome :
A total of 76 patients completed the training. Among them, 39 (51.3%) were male and 37 (48.7%) were female. The mean age was 72.8. Their diagnoses included 69.7% cancer, 22.4% end-stage renal disease, 2.6% motor neuron disease, 1.3% chronic heart disease and 1.3% others.
Statistical analysis showed that BFI was significantly improved from 3.26 ±2.48 to 2.49 ±2.21 after 2 months (*p<0.05, paired t-test). The BBS score was significantly improved from 32.2 ±16.4 to 35.1±16.3 (**p<0.001, paired t-test). TUG time was significantly improved from 15.5 ±2.0 seconds to 13.3 ±1.68 seconds (*p<0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). 5TSTS was significantly improved from 17.3 ±1.46 seconds to 15.8 ±1.29 seconds (*p<0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test).
Patients underwent physiotherapy rehabilitation in PC Day experienced significant improvement in physical functions and perceived fatigue.
