Egan, M.Y., McEwen, S., Sikora, L., Chasen, M., Fitch, M., & Eldred, S. (2013). Rehabilitation following cancer treatment. Disability and Rehabilitation, 35, 2245–2258.

STUDY PURPOSE: To summarize evidence regarding rehabilitation interventions to address problems of cancer survivors

TYPE OF STUDY: Systematic review

DATABASES USED: PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Google Scholar

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Effectiveness of treatment that could be provided by rehab professionals, subjects 18 years or older, cancer survivors (defined as having completed primary treatment). Reports on only systematic reviews and RCTs, though these were not identified as criteria.  

EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Pharmaceutical, surgical, or radiological interventions

TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: Not stated

EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: No quality rating applied. Appears to have very few studies in multiple areas.

• FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED =  56
• SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES, TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW: Not provided
• KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Not provided

PHASE OF CARE: Transition phase after active treatment

• Reviews seven systematic reviews and six RCTs regarding impact of exercise on fatigue
• States that results confirm a positive effect on fatigue for rehab therapies
• Some of these studies included acupuncture, counseling, and mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy

Evidence supports the effectiveness of exercise-based interventions in managing fatigue among cancer survivors.

• No quality rating of studies
• Limited studies included, and it is not clear how these were selected
• Study findings are grouped by problem, rather than synthesizing evidence related to specific interventions (for example, combining effects of exercise and acupuncture interventions)

The review provides limited information to assess efficacy of specific interventions. Studies reviewed here do not add further to the body of knowledge overall, and the report is aimed at identifying interventions that can be provided by rehabilitation professionals rather than synthesis of intervention evidence.