Evaluating the effectiveness and feasibility of patient-reported outcome-based symptom management versus usual care in patients after lung cancer surgery.

This study evaluated the effectiveness and feasibility of patient-reported outcome (PRO)-based symptom management versus usual care in patients after lung cancer surgery. The data showed that PRO-based symptom management after lung cancer surgery showed lower symptom burden and fewer complications than usual care for up to 4 weeks after discharge.

Effectiveness and safety are the main factors when choosing a treatment option. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are also important during and after treatment and should be taken into consideration. PROs measure important factors such as physical function, pain, and quality of life (QoL) of patients. Timely and effective symptom management is important for providing high-quality, patient-centered care after lung cancer surgery.

Previous studies have reported that PRO-based proactive symptom monitoring can reduce symptom burden, improve physical well-being, enhance QOL, reduce hospital visits, and prolong survival time. These studies only included patients from Western countries. However, the effectiveness and feasibility of PRO-based symptom management versus usual care in patients from Eastern countries after lung cancer surgery are still unknown.

This study involved 134 patients who underwent lung cancer surgery. Patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups. Group 1 included 65 patients who received PRO-based symptom management. Group 2 included 69 patients who received usual care.

At discharge, the number of symptom threshold events was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (0 vs 2 events). The complication rate was significantly lower in group 1 (21.5%) than in group 2 (40.6%).

Patients in group 1 had lower symptom burden, better functional status, and fewer complications for up to 4 weeks after discharge than patients in group 2.

This study concluded that PRO-based symptom management after lung cancer surgery showed lower symptom burden and fewer complications than usual care for up to 4 weeks after discharge.

This study focused on early recovery after surgery. Whether patients would benefit in the long term needs further investigation.