A patient advocacy-focused rehabilitation pilot program: Real-life experience in enhancing quality of life for metastatic lung cancer patients.

Abstract

12079 Background: Living with lung cancer (LC) is a prolonged and challenging journey, where the disease's consequences and treatment-related adverse events significantly affect the quality of life (QOL) of patients. Recognizing these challenges, healthcare professionals (HCPs) in collaboration with a patient advocacy organization designed and implemented a personalized rehabilitation pilot program tailored specifically for patients with unresectable metastatic LC. Methods: 50 Stage IV unresectable metastatic lung cancer patients were recruited via a patient advocacy group on Facebook. Participants underwent a personalized rehabilitation program with four one-on-one physiotherapy sessions, during which a tailored regimen was developed. Each participant received a customized booklet and equipment to support their rehabilitation. The program incorporated two key components: aerobic exercises and strength-training activities. Additionally, patients and their caregivers participated in three online mental health support sessions, providing holistic care. EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire was used at the beginning, end of the program and two months after. The physiotherapists measured the patients’ 5 repetitions sit to stand time and 10-meter walk time at the beginning and the end of the program. Significance of results was calculated with repeated measure\within subjects T test with one way hypothesis and a confident interval of 0.95%. Results: Significant improvement was observed from the beginning of the program to the end in the Sit-to-stand test, from 19.3s to 15.1s, p = 0.0001 and the 10-meter-walk test, from 12.5 to 10.5 p = 0.017. In addition, a significant improvement from beginning to end of the program was observed based on the EORTC QLQ-30 in the global health status, physical functioning, role functioning as well as in the symptoms of fatigue, nausea, vomiting and appetite loss. In social functioning and constipation, significant improvement was maintained even two months after completion of the program. No significant change was observed in emotional and cognitive functioning, pain symptoms, dyspnea, insomnia, diarrhea and financial difficulties. Conclusions: The real-life survivorship journey of metastatic lung cancer patients involves numerous challenges including sequela of side effects and symptoms that impact QOL of the patient that impacts the caregiver as well. Our duty to support "beyond the pill" led us to this real-life pilot program that shows the feasibility and efficacy of home-based rehabilitation. Even among patients who experienced disease progression during the program, notable benefits were observed. These findings underscore the importance of further research and the need for sustained support after program completion to ensure long-term maintenance and improvements in patients' well-being.