Patient perspectives on electronic patient-reported outcome-based symptom management after lung cancer surgery: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Patients frequently experience severe symptoms after lung cancer surgery. Symptom management using electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) can improve postoperative symptom burden, enhance functional status, and reduce complications. This qualitative study aimed to explore patient perspectives on ePRO-based symptom management. METHODOLOGY: Patients in a multicentre, randomised controlled trial (CN-PRO-Lung 2) conducted in China were asked to participate in qualitative interviews. In the trial, patients with lung cancer were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive postoperative symptom management based on ePRO or usual care. To explore perspectives on the model, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 patients in the ePRO group. Data were analysed using descriptive and thematic analyses. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 53.5 years (range: 28-73 years), with 55% being female. Two major themes emerged from the qualitative interviews: patient acceptance and patient-derived recommendations. Patient acceptance included four subthemes: patient satisfaction, daily life disruption and burden, postoperative recovery assistance, and long-term implementation needs. Patients were highly satisfied with the ePRO model and felt it did not increase their burden. They also found it beneficial for recovery and recommended long-term implementation. Patient-derived recommendations included two subthemes: enhancing the ePRO model and improving the system. Patients emphasised the importance of timely doctor feedback, a user-friendly interface, recognisable app icons, and additional self-reporting sections to increase engagement and efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: ePRO-based symptom management seems to be acceptable for patients who underwent lung cancer surgery. Future research should focus on optimising the ePRO model and system to better meet patient needs and facilitate its clinical implementation.