Research update: The rehabilitation needs of people living with cancer
9th November 2017
Researchers at the Cicely Saunders Institute have published their research investigating the rehabilitation support needed by adults living with cancer.
People with cancer need help to live independently within society. However until now the evidence of the type of assistance needed has been difficult to interpret.
Researchers wanted to find out how prevalent disability was amongst people living with cancer, what were their most common needs and how to support them with the activities of daily living. They looked at 12 databases to find out the extent of the needs of this group of patients.
The research showed that about one-third of adults with cancer have difficulty or require assistance to perform the basic activities of daily living. The findings highlight the need for rehabilitation focused on functional independence for people living with cancer. There is a need for healthcare professionals skilled in occupation assessment and rehabilitation therapy in cancer services.
Neo J, Fettes L, Gao W, Higginson IJ, Maddocks M. Disability in activities of daily living among adults with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Treatment Reviews. 2017 Oct 28. Available from, DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.10.006