A Provincial Survey on the Perioperative Rehabilitation Needs and Experiences of Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

Background/Objectives: The breast cancer care continuum is associated with a physical and emotional burden resulting in significant needs for rehabilitation. A growing concern has been the underutilization of rehabilitation services, even when they are accessible, highlighting that several women's needs remain unmet. The aim of this study was to investigate breast cancer patients' physical and psychological rehabilitation needs and experiences, and to document the barriers encountered throughout the breast cancer care continuum. Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of a self-reported online survey was conducted. Women aged 18 years and over with a diagnosis of breast cancer, who underwent breast surgery in the last 5 years in Quebec province, Canada, were eligible for this study. A questionnaire was developed by research team members, and content validity was evaluated by an expert group including professionals in rehabilitation, oncological care, and two patient partners. The questionnaire was completed once by each participant on the online platform Qualtrics ©. Closed-ended and open-ended questions were used to collect information on (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) clinical profiles, (3) rehabilitation needs, and (4) rehabilitation experiences. Results: The sample included participants from all 17 administrative regions of the Quebec province, 78.0% of whom lived in urban areas. Four hundred and four participants (78.4%) expressed rehabilitation needs, but only two hundred and forty-five participants (47.2%) reported the use of rehabilitation services. A lack of awareness of the service's availability, the fact that the service was not prescribed or recommended, and financial constraints were cited as major barriers to accessing rehabilitation services. Conclusions: Breast cancer patients expressed significant needs for rehabilitation services but demonstrated low utilization rates, reflecting barriers to rehabilitation. Addressing the fragmented integration of rehabilitation services into the breast cancer care continuum and inequities in access based on social determinants of health should be prioritized.