Cancer rehabilitation: current trends and practices within an Austrian University Hospital Center^*

* Special Issue of the Journal “Disability & Rehabilitation” (Editor-in-Chief: Professor Dave Muller) “Aspects of Cancer Rehabilitation: An Austrian Perspective”.

Abstract

Background: Cancer rehabilitation has the goal to improve functional status, quality of life, participation, and can improve quality of patient-centered programs and health care efficiencies. In Austria, inpatient cancer rehabilitation is well established but outpatient rehabilitation has not yet established well.

Methods: The present article is describing current rehabilitation in practice and focuses on cancer rehabilitation in Austria, namely bringing together a descriptive account of current trends and practices within an Austrian University Hospital Center (General Hospital of Vienna linked to the Medical University of Vienna) and the Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC) Vienna, Austria.

Results: Cancer Rehabilitation in the described Austrian University Hospital Center is well developed due to the help of all different clinics dealing with cancer patients and of the opinion leaders of the CCC Vienna. The Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Occupational Medicine of the Medical University of Vienna as a part of the CCC Vienna with his “Pioneer-Status” and the described milestones has been integrated in the national cancer rehabilitation concept of our country from the beginning.

Conclusions: Also in Austria, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with competencies in diagnostic and therapy as well as of coordination of the multiprofessional and interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams is an important part of cancer rehabilitation.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Cancer rehabilitation is an important part in the treatment and care of cancer patients with the goal to improve functional status, quality of life, and participation

• Cancer rehabilitation helps cancer survivors to be integrated in their normal live, namely to increase social participation and/or workability

• The field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with competencies in diagnostic and therapy as well as of coordination of the multi-professional and interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams is an important part of cancer rehabilitation

• Interventions and treatment approaches from the field of Physical Medicine and rehabilitation include the application of Physical Modalities like electrotherapy, thermotherapy, balneology and climatic therapy, phototherapy, and mechanotherapy

• Cancer rehabilitation has to be early integrated into the cancer care continuum

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer
• participation
• inpatient
• outpatient
• interdisciplinary
• multi-professional

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.