Improvements in physical and mental health following a rehabilitation programme for breast cancer patients

Purpose: To investigate how breast cancer patients referred to in-patient rehabilitation at Mosseberg Rehabilitation Centre (MRC) in Sweden perceive their life situation, and if their life satisfaction and mental health have changed three months later. Method: This prospective study is based on 46 women, all of them in working age. Three validated questionnaires were used, the Life Satisfaction (Li-Sat 11) scale, the Maastricht Questionnaire and the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBQ). Results: Statistically significant improvements for the variables physical and mental health were seen in the measurements made using the Li-Sat 11 scale. The SMBQ survey showed a statistically significant improvement in the composite results for the indices involved. Likewise, the Maastricht Questionnaire showed statistically significant improvements in health status with respect to feelings of exhaustion and fatigue. Conclusion: More effective treatments have resulted in an increase in the number of breast cancer survivors and in the demand for rehabilitation. This study shows improvements in health and satisfaction with health, but cannot conclude this result as only an effect of the rehabilitation programme. Since only a few studies have until now shed light on the benefits of in-patient rehabilitation following a breast cancer diagnosis, there is an urgent need for continued research in this area. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.