Empowering Recovery: A Co-Designed Intervention to Transform Care for Operable Lung Cancer

Patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer experience significant symptom burden and physical impairments. Exercise rehabilitation programmes have been shown to improve symptoms and aid recovery, however, implementation into routine practice has proven challenging.

To develop a robust understanding of the key design requirements of an exercise-based pre- and post-operative rehabilitation prototype intervention designed to support patients with operable lung cancer prepare for and recover from thoracic surgery, and co-design an acceptable intervention prototype with key stakeholders.

An experience-based co-design (EBCD) study involving patients, caregivers, clinicians, consumer advocates and researchers from across Australia. Two rounds of EBCD workshops were held between November 2023 and May 2024. Workshops were underpinned by the COM-B Model and Theoretical Domains Framework. Qualitative data were thematically analysed by two independent researchers. Identified barriers and facilitators were mapped to the Behaviour Change Wheel, and used to develop the final intervention prototype, which was presented using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) guide.

Eleven patients (55% female, mean age 66.4 (±9.3) years), one caregiver, and 16 professionals (physiotherapists, nurses, respiratory physicians, a thoracic surgeon, consumer advocates and researchers) participated. Retention between workshop rounds was high (86%). Nineteen major themes were developed, including unmet education needs; the link between mental health and recovery; and the influence of unexpected, persistent symptoms and functional decline. Core intervention principles included flexibility, individualisation and continuity. Essential components included screening/assessment, education, exercise, behaviour change, and mental health support. The intervention prototype was refined in the second workshop round.

This EBCD study successfully identified key experiences and barriers in preparing for and recovering from lung cancer surgery and engaged stakeholders in complex intervention design, culminating in the development of a flexible, multi-modal pre- and post-operative rehabilitation programme prototype. Future projects will evaluate the prototype acceptability and feasibility.

Past patients and their caregivers with lived experience of undergoing/caring for someone undergoing lung cancer surgery, and multidisciplinary professionals, participated in co-design workshops to develop and refine the exercise-based rehabilitation intervention goals, priorities, and prototype.