Advanced Cancer, Palliative
Conditions
Keywords
Palliative care, Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation, Barthel Index, Functional Ambulation Category, Palliative Performance Scale, Saudi Arabia
Brief summary
This study examines the short-term effects of physiotherapy on functional status, ambulation, and independence among patients admitted to the palliative care unit at Jazan Specialist Hospital. The study hypothesizes that a short-term individualized physiotherapy program will lead to measurable improvements in functional outcomes as assessed by the Barthel Index (BI), Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), and Palliative Performance Scale (PPS).
Detailed description
A prospective single-group pre-post quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Palliative Care Unit at Jazan Specialist Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia, between August 2025 and April 2026. Sixty patients were managed during the study period; of these, 32 patients with complete paired pre- and post-intervention assessments were included in the final statistical analysis. Patients received an individualized physiotherapy program once daily for one week (7 sessions), with each session lasting approximately 45-60 minutes. The intervention included range-of-motion exercises, manual therapy, strengthening exercises, stretching, mobility training, transfer training, ambulation exercises, positioning, and chest physiotherapy. Outcome measures included the Barthel Index (BI), Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), and Palliative Performance Scale (PPS). Pre- and post-intervention data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Interventions
OTHERExperimental: Physiotherapy Intervention Group
Individualized Physiotherapy Program Participants received an individualized physiotherapy program delivered once daily for one week (7 sessions), each lasting approximately 45-60 minutes. The program included: range-of-motion exercises, manual therapy, strengthening exercises, stretching, mobility training, transfer training, ambulation exercises, positioning, and chest physiotherapy, as clinically appropriate. The program was tailored to each patient's functional status, clinical condition, and tolerance, with modifications made according to daily clinical assessment. Outcome measures: Barthel Index (BI), Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), and Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) assessed at baseline (within 24-48 hours of recruitment) and after completion of the one-week intervention (day 7).
Sponsors
University of Jazan
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Adult patients aged 18 years or older admitted to the palliative care unit with a confirmed diagnosis of advanced cancer. 2. Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) score of 40 or above. 3. Clinically stable and conscious at the time of recruitment. 4. Capable of providing informed consent, either personally or through a legal guardian.
Exclusion criteria
1\. Pre-terminal or unstable clinical condition that precluded safe physiotherapy participation. 2. PPS score below 40 indicating severely reduced functional status. 3\. Unconsciousness or inability to engage meaningfully in physiotherapy sessions.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Improvement in Barthel Index (BI) | [Time Frame: Timepoint 1 = Baseline (within 24-48 hours of recruitment). Timepoint 2 = Post-intervention (day 7 or at discharge).] | The BI assesses independence in activities of daily living, with higher scores indicating greater independence. Scores range from 0 to 100. |
| Improvement in Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) | [Time Frame: Timepoint 1 = Baseline. Timepoint 2 = Post-intervention (day 7 or at discharge).] | The FAC assesses walking ability and level of assistance required for ambulation. Scores range from 0 (non-ambulatory) to 5 (independent ambulation on all surfaces). |
| Improvement in Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) | [Time Frame: Timepoint 1 = Baseline. Timepoint 2 = Post-intervention (day 7 or at discharge).] | The PPS assesses overall functional status in palliative care, with higher scores indicating better functional performance. Scores range from 0 to 100 in increments of 10. |
Countries
Saudi Arabia
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORNujud Halawi
University of Jazan
Outcome results
None listed