Partial inpatient oncologic rehabilitation--results of a model project

Medical rehabilitation in Germany is traditionally performed primarily in the inpatient setting. It was not until recent years that model forms of outpatient offers were first tested. In this article we will present the results of a comparative evaluation of inpatient and outpatient/partially outpatient oncological rehabilitation measures. Within the framework of a retrospective questionnaire study, oncological rehabilitants from both settings will be compared with regard to questions concerning the process of participation, rehabilitative goals, oncological interventions and perceived outcome from the perspective of the patient. An overall result is that persons who were treated in the outpatient setting, when compared with those treated in the inpatient setting, show more congruency than discrepancy with regard to all of these key topics. The results will be discussed with respect to further development of the rehabilitative health care system.