Evaluation of a rehabilitation planning consult for survivors of head and neck cancer.

Abstract

The rehabilitation planning consult (RPC) is a novel, transdisciplinary rehabilitation intervention for survivors of head and neck cancer. The study aimed to: (1) estimate recruitment and withdrawal rates, and adverse events; and (2) estimate the effect on rehabilitation indicators in survivors of head and neck cancer. A single group pre-post study with follow-up was conducted with survivors of head and neck cancer who had completed treatment within 18 months. Outcome measures included goal attainment and quality of life indicators. Thirty participants (30) completed the RPC, and 20 completed follow-up. The average age was 59.8 years (SD 13.3), 23 were men, and 23 set rehabilitation goals. At follow-up, there was a large effect on goal performance (d = 1.5) and satisfaction (d = 1.5), and on the Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) physical role and social functioning subscales (d = 1.0 and 0.8). There was a small to moderate effect on most other outcomes. The RPC is a promising transdisciplinary rehabilitation intervention warranting further study with a controlled trial.