Occupational therapy (OT) has been recommended for hospitalized and outpatient patients, but its effects on occupational roles and quality of life in patients with cancer are uncertain.

This study aimed to evaluate the roles of OT as a therapeutic resource during chemotherapy for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

This was a prospective, longitudinal, and quantitative study, carried out in the chemotherapy room of the Clinical Oncology Service of the General Hospital of University of Campinas from February to November 2018. Socio-demographic profile of patients was obtained from medical records, and Occupational Role Identification List, SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire and the FACT-F Fatigue Questionnaire were applied to patients before and after the OT intervention by the researcher responsible for the study. Four to six OT sessions were performed, depending on the number of chemotherapy cycles, and each session lasted one hour. The therapeutic interventions were making mandalas, reflecting on songs, playing bingo, playing dominoes and painting boxes.

Thirty-eight patients with CRC were enrolled in the study and 35 (92%) completed all procedures. The average age of the patients was 59 years, 58% of whom were male, undergoing neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and palliative chemotherapy. After OT intervention, there was a change in the occupational roles reported by patients. There was also a significant improvement in quality of life in the pain and functional capacity domain. Women had changes in social/family well-being and social aspects and the older they were, the lower their functional well-being.

OT provided a new meaning in the performance of occupational roles and contributed to improving the quality of life of patients with CRC during chemotherapy. Acknowledgements: The study was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).