Participation in oncology rehabilitation in regional South West Victoria, Australia: a retrospective study.

Overall rehabilitation participation rate among cancer patients in South West Victoria was extremely low at 5.8%.

• Total eligible patient population was 898 adults who received cancer treatment during 2023.
• Only 52 patients (5.8%) attended rehabilitation.
• Data were collected from electronic medical records at five health services providing cancer treatment in South West Victoria.
• The study period covered the full calendar year 2023.

Among cancer patients who participated in rehabilitation, 61.5% completed their rehabilitation program.

• Of the 52 patients who attended rehabilitation, 32 (61.5%) completed their program.
• This means approximately 38.5% of rehabilitation attendees did not complete their program.
• Completion rates were analyzed alongside participation rates as distinct outcomes.

Longer duration between oncology treatment and commencement of rehabilitation was associated with greater likelihood of program completion.

• Statistical analysis identified trends in timing of cancer treatment with respect to rehabilitation participation and completion.
• The relationship between treatment-to-rehabilitation interval and completion was a statistically identified trend.
• This finding suggests timing of rehabilitation referral may be a meaningful factor in program outcomes.

Patients who received multiple treatment modalities were more likely to participate in rehabilitation but less likely to complete a rehabilitation program.

• Receipt of multiple treatment modalities was associated with both higher participation likelihood and lower completion likelihood.
• This finding suggests a complex relationship between treatment complexity and rehabilitation engagement.
• Statistical analysis identified this as a trend within the dataset of 898 eligible patients.

The study findings are considered potentially generalizable to rural and regional areas Australia-wide.

• South West Victoria was selected as a regional setting with known disparities in cancer outcomes compared to metropolitan areas.
• Australian guidelines recommend exercise be embedded as routine cancer care, yet participation remains low nationally.
• The authors note disparities in cancer outcomes between metropolitan and regional areas nationwide as context for this regional study.
• Five health services across the region were included to capture the regional health service landscape.