New research aims to improve lung cancer rehabilitation by measuring the outcomes that matter to patients

Background 

Rehabilitation is an important part of care for people with lung cancer. Thanks to improvements in early detection and treatment, more people are living longer after a lung cancer diagnosis. However, many continue to experience symptoms post-treatment such as breathlessness, pain and emotional distress, which can make daily life difficult. 

Rehabilitation programmes, which may include exercise, breathing exercises and emotional support, can help people with lung cancer manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. 

Different hospitals and research teams often use different ways to measure whether rehabilitation is working. This makes it difficult to compare programmes or make sure that all patients receive the most effective care. 

What did the study look at? 

The researchers wanted to make a list of the most important things to monitor in lung cancer rehabilitation, such as in mental wellbeing and quality of life. This can help to make sure that programmes focus on what matters most to patients. This list is known as a core outcome set (COS). 

To create the core outcome set, the researchers worked with people who have lung cancer, their carers and health professionals such as physiotherapists, doctors and exercise specialists from different countries. Everyone took part in several rounds of online surveys and meetings to decide which things are most important to measure in lung cancer rehabilitation. 

What did the results show? 

The study identified six important areas to measure in lung cancer rehabilitation. These are: 

• Breathlessness 

• Daily activities 

• Physical function 

• Quality of life 

• Emotional and mental wellbeing 

• Pain 

The researchers also agreed on measurement tools for some of these outcomes: 

• The 6-minute walk test: measures how far a person can walk in six minutes, for physical function. 

• The EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire: a short survey that asks questions about quality of life, daily activities and emotional wellbeing. 

No consensus was reached on tools for the other outcomes, but the COS provides a clear framework for evaluating lung cancer rehabilitation. 

Why is this important? 

Using a core outcome set means that rehabilitation programmes can be measured in the same way across different hospitals and countries. This helps improve the quality and consistency of care for people with lung cancer. 

The results of this study provide an important step forward in making sure that lung cancer rehabilitation programmes support patients to advocate for themselves, manage their pain and live life as fully as possible. 

Read the original research paper: Development of a clinical core outcome set to evaluate lung cancer rehabilitation