Mobile phone app-Based pulmonary rehabilitation for chemotherapy-treated patients with advanced lung cancer: Pilot study

Abstract

Background: Advanced lung cancer patients often have chronic lung disease with reduced exercise capacities and various symptoms leading to altered quality of life (QoL). No studies have assessed pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) employing a mobile app and an Internet of Things device in advanced lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Objective: This study aimed to determine the feasibility and efficacy of smartphone app-based PR on exercise capacity, symptom management, and QoL in patients with advanced lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 100 patients were recruited in a prospective, single-arm intervention study using a smartphone app-based PR program for 12 weeks. Exercise capacity (6-min walking distance, 6MWD), QoL, symptom scale scores, and distress indexes were investigated. Results: A total of 90 patients completed the PR program. The most common cause of drop out was hospitalization because of cancer progression. After PR, there was significant improvement in the 6MWD; 380.1 m (SD 74.1) at baseline, 429.1 m (SD 58.6) at 6 weeks (P