Assessment of degree of satisfaction of cancer patients and their families with rehabilitation and factors associated with it--results of a Japanese population

To evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation from the standpoint of both cancer patients and their families and their degree of satisfaction with it and to assess factors associated with their degree of satisfaction. The subjects were 23 inpatients for whom rehabilitation had been prescribed during the period of the survey, and their families. Degree of satisfaction with rehabilitation and associated factors were assessed using questionnaires by both patients and their families twice: Before and 2 weeks after the start of rehabilitation. The mean scores for degree of patient satisfaction and degree of family satisfaction were 8.6 and 7.7 (0-10), respectively. Awareness of rehabilitation (after rehabilitation), willingness for rehabilitation (before and after rehabilitation), emotional state (before and after), effectiveness of rehabilitation, and communication with staff were significantly correlated with degree of patient satisfaction. Emotional state of the patient (before), change in emotional state of the patient, family awareness of rehabilitation (after), change in emotional state of the family, and communication with staff were significantly correlated with degree of family satisfaction. The results indicated that both the cancer patients and their families were satisfied with rehabilitation. They also suggested a need to understand and provide care for the emotional state of patients and their families in order to increase their degree of satisfaction, and a need for adequate explanation and active involvement to increase awareness and willingness in regard to rehabilitation.