Developing workshops to enhance self-efficacy among patients in cancer survivorship: A collaborative partnership between physiatry and a community cancer support network.

Abstract

e13786 Background: Cancer survivors face physical, emotional and psychosocial challenges after treatment. There is evidence that rehabilitation can help restore function and quality-of-life in cancer survivorship, however it is underutilized. This is attributed to a lack of awareness among clinicians and patients, and a lack of clinical guidelines that incorporate rehabilitation. In 2021, Shah et. al demonstrated that their hope-enhancing workshop for breast cancer patients was feasible and efficacious, however, the benefits of workshops incorporating cancer rehabilitation have not been explored. This study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effects of community-based educational workshops focused on cancer rehabilitation. Methods: Cancer Rehabilitation Education and Wellness is a formal partnership between a national rehabilitation health system and a national cancer support organization to promote awareness on survivorship topics. This study included data collected from two workshops– one focused on exercise in cancer survivorship, and one on cancer-related fatigue. Each session was one hour, with in-person & virtual participation. The workshops were free and public. They were led by resident physicians, skilled therapists, and social workers. The workshops incorporated slide-based content, an interactive session, and education on local resources. Participants were asked to complete optional pre- and post-workshop surveys. The primary outcome was feasibility determined by attendance, and secondary outcome was self-efficacy with an abbreviated Cancer Behavior Inventory . Results: Feasibility was demonstrated by recruitment of 35 patients over 6 months, with 57% of patients completing pre- and post-intervention surveys. Based on these data, patients report statistically improved expression of negative feelings about cancer, more content knowledge, and greater ability to perform daily activities following workshop participation. Conclusions: Community-based rehabilitation workshops are feasible, well-accepted by survivors, and integrate smoothly into provider workflows. This workshop model could be replicated by other health systems—with a team-based approach, committed community partnerships, and hybrid workshop delivery—in order to reach the most survivors and caregivers. This approach can bridge the gap between survivorship rehabilitation needs and accessible community resources.