Trial Information

Occupational Therapy for Cancer Patients: A Randomised Controlled Study

Background

Cancer patients often experience serious dysfunctions leading to problems with activities of
daily living (ADL) and reduced quality of life. Occupational therapy is believed to be
effective in handling many of the problems with ADL experienced by patients with cancer, but
the evidence is sparse.

Aim

The purpose of this study is to analyse the effects of an occupational therapy intervention
targeting cancer patients.

Outcome measures are the patients self-reported quality of life and the patients ability to
perform ADL.

Methods

Randomised controlled trial with 288 patients with cancer treated at Naestved hospital in
Denmark. Occupational therapy intervention programme for the intervention group (N=144) and
standard treatment and care for the controls (N=144).

A systematic review including studies of ADL intervention for cancer patients will be
carried out. Feasibility of the recruitment and the intervention will be analysed and
published.

The patients need for occupational therapy will be analysed using baseline information from
the randomised controlled trial.

The effects of the intervention will be analysed using patient validated questionnaires
including EORTC QLQ-C30 and the ADL taxonomy questionnaire.