Abstract
Purpose
This qualitative study explores the subjective will and psychological experience of home exercise in patients with lung cancer during the interval of chemotherapy.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Following the Colaizzi 7-step analysis method, the interview data were read carefully, meaningful statements related to the research questions were extracted, coded, collected and described in detail, and the authenticity of the theme was verified.
Results
The analysis revealed the home-based exercise experience of patients’ in the interval period of chemotherapy, and identified three themes: 1) the perception experience of home-based exercise (beneficial home-based exercise experience, negative home-based exercise experience); 2) the influencing factors of home-based exercise (exercise rehabilitation knowledge, disease symptoms and adverse effects of chemotherapy, exercise history, exercise self-efficacy, social support, restrictions on objective conditions); 3) Patients with lung cancer expected to get professional guidance about home-based exercise rehabilitation knowledge from medical care providers.
Conclusion
Patients’ perception and attitude towards home-based exercise behavior is affected by many factors during the interval of chemotherapy, and they expect professional guidance from medical care providers. Medical care providers should know the problems and the influencing factors in the process of home-based exercise of patients, and formulate personalized exercise measures for patients based on their own characteristics and needs, so as to relieve the symptoms of discomfort and improve the quality of life of patients with lung cancer.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the invaluable contribution from the lung cancer patients who shared their thoughts and experiences in the individual interviews. Thanks are also given to the medical staff of the second and third departments of Oncology in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University for their important inputs and comments along the process.
Author Contributions
All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.