Physiotherapy in palliative medicine: patient and caregiver wellness

Abstract

ObjectivesDespite the demonstrated efficacy of physiotherapy in palliative care programmes, there are scarce data of its real-life impact on patients’ and caregivers’ wellness and stress. Our aim was to assess effectiveness of a 30-day physiotherapy programme in psychological wellness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with advanced chronic diseases or cancer and in their caregivers’ stress.MethodsQuasiexperimental before–after study applying personalised kinesitherapy, exercise with curative effects, respiratory physiotherapy, therapeutic massages and ergotherapy. Psychological wellness, HRQoL and caregiver’s strain outcomes were measured.Results207 patients (60% men, with a mean age of 73.6±12 years) were included; 129 (62.3%) with advanced cancer, and the remaining 78 with advanced chronic diseases. Psychological wellness (Emotional Stress Detection Tool decreased from 12.4±3 to 11±3; p<0.0001), caregiver’s strain (Caregiver Strain Index decreased from 8.5±3.2 to 7.9±3.5; p<0.0001) and HRQoL (WHO-BREF physical health domain increased from 8.3±2.6 to 9.4±2.9; p<0.0001) showed a significant improvement after the physiotherapy programme. Global satisfaction with the physiotherapy intervention was also high (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 of 28.3±3.3 points).ConclusionsA personalised physiotherapy programme incorporated to integral palliative care improved psychological wellness, HRQoL and caregivers’ strain of patients with advanced chronic diseases and cancer.