The Effectiveness of an Upper Limb Rehabilitation Program on Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients after Mastectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an upper limb rehabilitation program on the quality of life in patients who had been first diagnosed breast cancer and subsequently underwent mastectomy. Data Sources: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 48 breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy at a medical center in Taiwan. The patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 24) or control group (n = 24). The patients in the intervention group participated in a 12-week upper limb rehabilitation program involving face-to-face upper limb rehabilitation education and once-a month monitoring of their upper extremity activity. The control group received standard nursing care. Quality of life was assessed through EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR 23 questionnaires at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12 after enrollment. Results: Both the intervention and control groups had significantly improved their levels of functioning, symptoms, and quality of life from baseline to week 12 after enrollment. The intervention group showed greater improvements in functioning and symptom levels after the intervention compared to the control group; however, no statistically significant differences were found. Additionally, the levels of global health status/quality of life in both groups gradually increased from baseline to week 12 Conclusion: An upper limb rehabilitation program is effective in improving the functioning and symptoms of breast cancer patients who have undergone mastectomy. Implications for Nursing Practice: Patients are encouraged to undergo upper limb rehabilitation in order to improve their functioning, symptoms and quality of life.