Current Status and Typing of Physical Activity in Lung Cancer Patients Post Surgery at Home: Which Patients Need Support in Activities?

Postsurgery physical activity is crucial for lung cancer rehabilitation. However, patients often lack sufficient activity at home, and the types of activities they engage in have not been well studied in China.

This study aimed to identify physical activity profiles and assess their relationship with demographic and clinical characteristics, postoperative symptoms, and health capabilities in Chinese patients with lung cancer post surgery at home.

A total of 370 home-based patients who had undergone lung cancer surgery 1 month prior participated. The MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used. A latent profile analysis was conducted to examine the energy expenditure of various types of physical activity. Influencing factors of various activity profiles were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Three latent categories were identified. Patients presenting discomfort symptoms a month after surgery displayed a heightened propensity to embrace household-oriented physical activities. In comparison, younger patients engaged in more occupation-oriented physical activities. Patients who achieved elevated scores on the Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale tended to engage in more exercise routines.

The physical activity of home-based patients 1 month after lung cancer surgery was generally a medium or low level. Age, postoperative symptoms, and self-rated health status can be used to identify the types of physical activity of these patients.

Healthcare providers should actively monitor patients with postoperative symptoms and low self-assessed health, and tailor home-based physical activity recommendations to suit specific age groups.