Occupational Therapy Interventions Based on Cancer Education on Quality of Life for Colorectal Cancer Survivors

BACKGROUND:

Colorectal cancer (CRC) and its treatment affect CRC survivors' quality of life (QoL), emotional distress and activities of daily living (ADL). It is assumed that occupational therapy interventions based on cancer education may be a feasible approach.

Aim To examine the effect of using cancer education based on healthy lifestyle by occupational therapist on QoL, emotional distress, ADL and healthy lifestyle behaviors in CRC survivors.

Methods Participants with CRC were designed as a two-group controlled trial, and a single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. These participants were randomly assigned to either an OT intervention or a non-intervention group (in a 1:1 ratio). Those participants in the OT intervention group were given a consultation based on a CRC education handbook by an occupational therapist for discharge preparation and on 1-month, 3-month follow-up clinic; the non-intervention group participants were given a CRC education handbook (the same handbook) only for discharge preparation. The primary outcome was the change in QoL measured using WHOOQOL-BREF. Secondary outcomes were changes in emotional distress, ADL and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Outcomes were examined in baseline (discharge preparation), 1-month and 3-months follow-up clinic.