Effects of Short-Term Educational Hospitalization with Multidisciplinary Approach for Lymphedema on Limb Circumference and Quality of Life

Background: Lymphedema is an intractable disease requiring lifelong treatment. Daily self-care by the patient is essential; however, establishing care is often difficult. Our hospital offers a short-term educational hospitalization program that involves intensive, multidisciplinary intervention to develop self-care. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of this program. Methods and Results: Among the patients diagnosed with primary or secondary lymphedema who underwent educational hospitalization, 31 cases (33 limbs) were included in this study. The upper extremity lymphedema (UEL) index and lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) index were used for objective evaluation, and the Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire was used for subjective evaluation. The therapeutic effects of educational hospitalization were examined before admission, at discharge, and at 6 months postdischarge. The UEL/LEL index significantly decreased for both the upper and lower limbs after educational hospitalization. In addition, the UEL/LEL index change rate from prehospitalization to 6 months postdischarge was compared between the continued and discontinued exercise groups; the former index showed significantly more improvement than the latter. Comparing the quality of life (QOL) assessments pre- and posthospitalization, statistically significant improvements were observed in all categories, including function, appearance, symptoms, and psychological state. Conclusions: Short-term educational hospitalization led to a sustained reduction in the circumference of lymphedema-affected limbs and an improvement in the QOL. The multidisciplinary approach resulted in improved self-efficacy and established daily self-care.