Physical and mental factors associated with recovery of physical functioning after oncological surgery

Abstract

Background: Oncological surgery is the most effective treatment for several cancers and is often curative. Undergoing oncological surgery negatively affects physical functioning. Little is known about the combination of physical and mental factors predicting recovery of physical functioning after oncological surgery. Physical and mental health are fundamentally linked. Identifying factors that predict the recovery of physical functioning benefits therapist and/or patients, through a better understanding of the expected recovery of physical functioning and patients with a poor prognosis of recovery can be monitored more extensively.

Aim: The aim of the study is to identify which preoperative physical and mental factors are associated with recovery of physical functioning one month after hospitalization in patients undergoing oncological surgery

Methods: A longitudinal observational cohort study was conducted in patients undergoing oncological surgery. Several physical and mental factors (anxiety and depression, physical activity, fatigue, illness acceptance, self-efficacy and mobility) were measured by questionnaires prior to surgery and one month after hospitalization. To determine their association with recovery of physical functioning, univariable linear regression analysis was performed. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed with backward stepwise selection for predicting recovery of physical functioning.

Results: Data from 56 participants were available for analysis. Univariable linear regression analysis showed that preoperative physical activity was associated with recovery of physical functioning. The other measured factors were not associated with recovery of physical functioning. In the final predicting model, based on multivariable linear regression, physical activity (p .023) was identified as a predictor of recovery of physical functioning. The lower the degree of physical activity, the worse the predicted recovery of physical functioning. The model explained 9.2% of the total variance.

Conclusion and key findings: Physical activity was a predictor of recovery of physical functioning after oncological surgery. Patients with a low level of physical activity prior to surgery may have a worse prognosis of recovery of physical functioning and can be monitored more extensively. Further research is needed to examine the causal relationship for developing and deploying preventive interventions which may contribute to optimal recovery of physical functioning.