Effectiveness of a Rehabilitation Program in Improving Quality of Life in Patients With Esophageal Cancer

Effectiveness of a Rehabilitation Program in Improving Quality of Life in Patients With Esophageal Cancer

Effectiveness of a Rehabilitation Program in Improving Sleep Quality, Emotional Distress, Circadian Rhythms, and Quality of Life in Patients With Esophageal Cancer

This study will investigate the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program in improving sleep quality, emotional distress, circadian rhythms, and quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer in Taiwan. Hypothesis: The quality of life in exercise group is significant improving than usual-care group at 3rd, 6th, 12th, 24th, and 36th month. The quality of sleep in exercise group is significant improving than usual-care group at 3rd, 6th, 12th, 24th, and 36th month. The emotional distress in exercise group is significant improving than usual-care group at 3rd, 6th, 12th, 24th, and 36th month. The circadian rhythms in exercise group is significant improving than usual-care group at 3rd, 6th, 12th, 24th, and 36th month.

This study will investigate the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program in improving sleep quality, emotional distress, circadian rhythms, and quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer in Taiwan.

The rehabilitation program was composed of two parts: an exercise program and a diet-teaching program. The exercise program was a 12-week home-based program that comprised moderate-intensity brisk walking for 40 min per session, with 3 sessions per week; in addition, weekly exercise counseling was provided through telephone. The diet teaching program was provided to the patients by using a diet booklet at baseline (same timing as the exercise program), and its contents were used to instruct the patients regarding dietary principles to be followed.

The control group (CG) received usual care, whereas a nurse, the manager for esophageal cancer treatment, provided routine care, conducted follow-ups, and offered information on esophageal cancer to the experimental group (EG).

A 12-week regimen of home-based walking exercises, comprising walking at a moderate intensity for 40 min, three times a week, was administered along with weekly exercise counseling. After collecting pretrial measurements, we explained the participants how to perform the exercises, according to an instruction manual for the exercise regimen. The detailed instructions, provided at the hospital clinics, included the determination of activity intensity, demonstration of pulse measurement, criteria for scores of 6-20 on the Borg's rating of perceived exertion (RPE), prevention of exercise-related injuries, and conditions necessitating termination of an exercise session. Participants were instructed that the exercises would be effective only if they reached 60%-80% of the target heart rate, as determined by the Karvonen method, and 13-15 on the RPE. Diet-teaching program (using dietary education booklet).

For each participant, we discussed exercise regimen-related issues and diet weekly through the telephone. For instance, we discussed whether participants' exercise fulfilled the prescribed intensity, duration, or frequency and whether the participants experienced any adverse effects.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-C30 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-C30 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-C30 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-C30 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-C30 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-C30 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-OES 18 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-OES 18 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-OES 18 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-OES 18 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-OES 18 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

using European Organization for Research and Treatment cancer QLQ-OES 18 (EORTC) to measure quality of life.

Emotional distress including anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale include anxiety and depression subscales, a total of 7 questions, each subscale is a four-point scoring method, 0 point for "not at all", 3 points for "always do", each subscale scores is between 0 and 21, that a score of 7 or less for non-cases, scores of 8-10 for doubtful cases and scores of 11 or more for definite cases.

Circadian rhythms including 24-h autocorrelation coefficient (r24) and in bed less than out of bed dichotomy index (I<O) collection from actigraphy.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients with esophageal cancer who were aged ≥20 years, could communicate in either Mandarin or Taiwanese, and were not cognitively impaired were included. Exclusion Criteria: -

Chen HM, Lin YY, Wu YC, Huang CS, Hsu PK, Chien LI, Lin YJ, Huang HL. Effects of Rehabilitation Program on Quality of Life, Sleep, Rest-Activity Rhythms, Anxiety, and Depression of Patients With Esophageal Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Cancer Nurs. 2022 Mar-Apr 01;45(2):E582-E593. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000953.