Exploring well-being and satisfaction with physiotherapy efficacy: An Italian study of cancer patients

Several studies have shown that rehabilitation can alleviate post-treatment side effects, maintain quality of life, and improve survival. However, information on the experience of physiotherapy care among patients with cancer is scarce. This study aimed to explore well-being, satisfaction and perceptions of efficacy of physiotherapy care among patients diagnosed with cancer. The participants were 100 subjects in rehabilitation therapy after surgery for cancer (mean age = 57.1 years, 87.1% women). Quantitative data were collected using the following tools: Global satisfaction of Physiotherapy Treatment Scale, Efficacy Treatment Physiotherapy Scale, Psychological Well-being Scale. The results showed that participants, compared to the normative data of the Italian population, had good levels of well-being: significant differences in "Environmental mastery", "Personal growth" and "Positive relationships with others" emerged. Moreover, subjects showed high levels of satisfaction and perceptions of the efficacy of their physiotherapy care. Correlation analyses indicated that there is a moderate positive correlation between global satisfaction and the dimensions of treatment efficacy. The results are discussed in relation to the need to give attention to well-being and rehabilitation treatment in cancer patients.