Physiatrists' Attitudes and Knowledge About Cancer Rehabilitation.

Objective We aim to assess the awareness and evaluation pattern among physiatrists regarding cancer rehabilitation and associated barriers to access. Design The present study is a cross-sectional study in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) Association Annual Meeting in Puerto Rico that used a 10-item questionnaire to summarize physiatrists' clinical patterns with their persons diagnosed with cancer (PDWCs). Results Thirty-eight (66.7%) participants answered they received minimal to no education about cancer rehabilitation benefits. Cancer patients represented 10% or less of the weekly patient load for 47 (82.5%) physiatrists surveyed. The most common type of cancer encountered was breast cancer for the management of adverse effects. Twenty-nine (50.9%) physiatrists answered that a multifactorial barrier was the cause for limited services within this population group. All participants agreed that rehabilitation is at least sometimes beneficial for cancer patients, and 54 (94.7%) believed these services are needed. Conclusion Although rehabilitation specialists learn about the benefits of rehabilitation for PDWCs, there continues to be a limited number of PDWCs evaluated, mainly due to poor access, lack of information about cancer rehabilitation, and economic difficulties. Further efforts should be made to emphasize the importance of integrating rehabilitation techniques in the care of PDWCs.

Oncologists' Attitude and Knowledge about Cancer Rehabilitation.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer survivors may experience multiple comorbidities related to the disease itself and adverse effects from treatment. Rehabilitation specialists could provide treatment options; however, oncologic rehabilitation services are underutilized. OBJECTIVE: To assess oncologists' awareness of the benefits of rehabilitation for cancer care patients and to identify barriers to rehabilitation referrals in adult cancer patients in Puerto Rico. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Regional Annual Meeting of the Association of Medical Hematology and Oncology of Puerto Rico, 4-7 September 2015. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-two oncologists. INTERVENTIONS: Participants completed a 10-item questionnaire focused on demographics, knowledge, and clinical practices over the previous 12 months related to rehabilitation in cancer patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency, reasons, and timing for oncologist referral of cancer patients to rehabilitation. Perceived risks and benefits of rehabilitation in cancer patients and their correlation to patient referrals, prognosis, type of cancer, and type of symptoms. RESULTS: Thirty-seven oncologists (88.1%) received minimal or no education about cancer rehabilitation, its benefits, and indications. This resulted in 31 oncologists (73.8%) referring less than 15% of their patients for rehabilitation, with almost a third of participants referring less than 5%. However, 39 (92.9%) agreed that rehabilitation is always or frequently beneficial for their patients. Fifteen (35.7%) said they did not refer patients if prognosis was less than 6 months, and 16 (38.0%) avoided referring patients with life expectancy of less than 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Although medical oncologists have some knowledge that rehabilitation is beneficial for their patients, there is a low referral rate. This could be due to lack of information about cancer rehabilitation and limited access to cancer rehabilitation specialists. Further efforts should be made to improve access to rehabilitation care for cancer patients and survivors.

Nerve conduction velocities: normal values for median and ulnar nerves

Cada laboratorio debe establecer sus propios parámetros normales para velocidades de conducción nerviosa, ya que, factores como temperatura, técnicas de medición y la localización de los electrodos pueden afectar los resultados. Cuarenta y cinco voluntarios (35 mujeres y 10 varones) entre las edades de 15 a 64 años, fueron sometidos a un historial completo y examen físico para excluir la posibilidad de neuropatía periférica. Las pruebas de laboratorios incluyeron hemograma, análisis de orina, SMA-12, glucosa plasmática 2 horas post prandial y pruebas de función tiroidea. Los valores obtenidos para las velocidades de conducción de los nervios medianos y ulnares fueron comparables con aquellos descritos previamente en la literatura. Cuando los valores fueron comparados entre grupos de edades, no se hallaron diferencias significativas. El proceso de envejecimiento no se encontró ser un factor determinante en la prolongación de velocidad de conducción o de la latencia distal