The dynamics of physical activity in palliative care patients.

BACKGROUND Active and passive physical exercises in patients under palliative (long term) care in palliative wards and home hospices are a necessary means of prevention or reduction of pulmonary complications, disorders of respiratory function, vascular complications, disorders of lymphatic and venous function, and musculoskeletal dysfunction. The goal of this study was to assess the dynamics of physical activity in patients under long term care. MATERIAL AND METHOD The study group consisted of 60 patients staying in a palliative care ward or a home hospice. The dynamics of physical ability was assessed with the Karnofsky Performance Scale, and the quality of life was evaluated using the 6-point scale of the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist. The study was conducted over eight weeks, with patient information recorded once a week. RESULTS Over consecutive weeks, physical activity increased by 10-20% in 20% of the participants, did not change in 36% of the participants, and 44% of the study group showed a decrease in activity. We found an increase in the quality of life in the consecutive weeks of the study and a correlation with the physical activity level. A higher score on the Karnofsky Scale corresponded with a higher quality of life measured in the six-point scale of the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist. Significant correlations were found both for specific weeks and for the entire study period. CONCLUSIONS 1. The rehabilitation of palliative care patients resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of life. 2. The results indicate that there is a need to provide palliative patients with optimum rehabilitation regardless of their pre-rehabilitation clinical status. 3. The Karnofsky Performance Scale and the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist are strongly correlated with each other, which makes them robust investigative instruments for evaluating palliative patients.