Knowledge and Awareness of Physiotherapy among Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Background: Despite the established benefits of physiotherapy in oncology care, there remains a substantial gap in the awareness and utilization of rehabilitation services among cancer patients. The role of physiotherapy in improving the quality of life and functional independence of cancer survivors is well-documented, yet the integration of these services into standard cancer care protocols is not uniformly practiced. Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of awareness and the barriers to physiotherapy among oncology patients in a tertiary care hospital, with an emphasis on understanding the gender-specific differences in awareness and interest in physiotherapy services. Methods: A six-month cross-sectional survey was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Sindh, employing a non-probability convenience sampling technique to recruit 318 participants. The sample size was determined using Raosoft sampling software, with a 95% confidence level, 5% margin of error, and 50% response distribution. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires, focusing on patients' awareness of and interest in physiotherapy, and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, with chi-square tests applied to assess statistical significance. Results: The study found that only 17.3% of participants were aware of physiotherapy services, with significant gender differences in awareness (p=0.013) and interest (p=0.326) observed. Barriers to physiotherapy utilization included pain (91.5%), fatigue (90.6%), and financial constraints (78.9%). A stark 84.6% of patients reported not being informed about physiotherapy during their treatment. Conclusion: The low level of awareness and significant barriers to accessing physiotherapy among cancer patients highlight the critical need for enhanced educational programs and improved communication between oncology and rehabilitation professionals. Addressing these gaps is essential for integrating physiotherapy into cancer care, thereby improving patient outcomes and quality of life.