An allied health rehabilitation program for patients following surgery for abdomino-pelvic cancer: a feasibility and pilot clinical study

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of conducting a rehabilitation program for patients following surgery for abdomino-pelvic cancer. Methods: A non-randomised controlled before-and-after study. Patients who had undergone surgery for stage I–III abdomino-pelvic cancer (colorectal, gynaecological or prostate cancer) were recruited. The rehabilitation group (n = 84) received an 8-week, bi-weekly education and exercise program conducted by a physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, health psychologist and dietician, supplemented by exercise diaries and telephone coaching sessions. The comparator group (n = 104) completed postal questionnaires only. Feasibility measures, functional exercise c..