ASPO Abstracts

Participation in Daily Life Among Individuals Newly Diagnosed with Cancer: A 6-Month Longitudinal Study

Authors: L'Hotta, AJ, Yan, Y, Davis, AA, War, SM, Chheda, MG, Tan, BR, Lyons, KD, Park, Y, King, AA

Category: Survivorship & Health Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research
Conference Year: 2023

Abstract Body:
Purpose To determine how participation in daily life is impacted during the first six-months following a new cancer diagnosis and to identify risk factors for participation restrictions. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were used to suggest referrals to rehabilitation services. Methods Participants (n=123) were adults (>18 years) with newly diagnosed primary brain, breast, colorectal, or lung cancer. PROs were collected one, three, and six-months post diagnosis. Daily life participation was assessed through the Community Participation Indicators (CPI) (score range: 0-1) and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) ability to participate subdomain, (score range: 20-80; mean: 50, SD: 10). PROMIS-43 Profile was also completed. Linear mixed effect model with random intercept evaluated change in participation over time. Results Total sample mean CPI score was 0.56; patients reported mildly impaired participation based on PROMIS scores (baseline: 46.19, 2-month follow-up: 44.81, 5-months: 44.84). However, no statistically significant changes in participation were observed over the study period. Risk factors for lower participation included receiving chemotherapy, lower physical function, higher anxiety and fatigue, and change in employment, p<0.05. PROs indicated roughly half of participants may benefit from physical or occupational therapy or mental health support, but only 20-36% of individuals who would benefit from supportive services were referred by their medical team. Conclusions People newly diagnosed with cancer experience impaired participation, but they are infrequently referred to supportive services such as rehabilitation. The use of PROs to assess participation, physical function, and mental health can promote access to supportive care services by identifying patients who may benefit from rehabilitation beyond those identified through routine clinical care.

Keywords: Rehabilitation Quality of life Patient-reported outcome measures