Effects of Rehabilitation Program on Quality of Life, Sleep, Rest-Activity Rhythms, Anxiety, and Depression of Patients With Esophageal Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if a 12-week brisk walking and diet education program could improve quality of life, sleep, rest-activity rhythms, anxiety, and depression in esophageal cancer patients.
Results Summary
The study found that the rehabilitation program significantly improved reflux symptoms and marginally improved emotional and social functions, constipation, eating difficulty, anxiety, and total sleep time compared to standard care.
Population
Patients with esophageal cancer (n=44).
Effective Dosage
Brisk walking (specific frequency/intensity not detailed) and diet education.
Duration
12 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
a 12-week brisk walking and diet education program | increase | reflux | patients with esophageal cancer | effect size, 0.32 | significantly improved | #1 |
a 12-week brisk walking and diet education program | increase | emotional function | patients with esophageal cancer | effect size, 0.27 | marginally improved | #2 |
a 12-week brisk walking and diet education program | increase | social function | patients with esophageal cancer | effect size, 0.27 | marginally improved | #3 |
a 12-week brisk walking and diet education program | increase | constipation | patients with esophageal cancer | effect size, 0.29 | improved | #4 |
a 12-week brisk walking and diet education program | increase | eating difficulty | patients with esophageal cancer | effect size, 0.27 | improved | #5 |
a 12-week brisk walking and diet education program | increase | anxiety | patients with esophageal cancer | effect size, 0.29 | improved | #6 |
a 12-week brisk walking and diet education program | increase | total sleep time | patients with esophageal cancer | effect size, 0.39 | improved | #7 |
a rehabilitation program comprising exercise and diet education | increase | health-related quality of life | patients with esophageal cancer | - | may improve | #8 |
a rehabilitation program comprising exercise and diet education | increase | sleep | patients with esophageal cancer | - | may improve | #9 |
a rehabilitation program comprising exercise and diet education | decrease | anxiety | patients with esophageal cancer | - | alleviate | #10 |
BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer patients experience severe symptoms and poor quality of life. OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of a rehabilitation program on quality of life, sleep, rest-activity rhythms, anxiety, and depression of esophageal cancer patients. METHODS: Forty-four patients with esophageal cancer were randomly assigned to an experimental group, which underwent a 12-week brisk walking and diet education program, or a control group, which received standard care. Health-related quality of life, subjective and objective sleep quality, rest-activity rhythms, anxiety, and depression were assessed at baseline and post intervention. RESULTS: A generalized estimating equation analysis revealed that, after intervention, compared with the control group, the experimental group exhibited significantly improved reflux (P = .022; effect size, 0.32) and marginally improved emotional (P = .069; effect size, 0.27) and social (P = .069; effect size, 0.27) functions; constipation (P = .050; effect size, 0.29), eating difficulty (P = .058; effect size, 0.27), anxiety (P = .050; effect size, 0.29), and total sleep time (P = .068; effect size, 0.39). CONCLUSIONS: The rehabilitation program may improve health-related quality of life and sleep and alleviate anxiety in patients with esophageal cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A rehabilitation program comprising exercise and diet education is a feasible and low-cost intervention for improving quality of life of patients with esophageal cancer. Healthcare team members may consider it as a nonpharmacological treatment option for patients.