Towards cancer rehabilitation at home: design of a telerehabilitation service for lung cancer patients

Although lung resection still provides the best long-term outcome for lung cancer, it is also associated with a considerable decay in physical and psychosocial health status. If not controlled, these symptoms can hamper postsurgical recovery, and lead to unscheduled healthcare use. This study aimed to determine the clinical relevance of and functional requirements for a telerehabilitation (TR) service to support recovery following lung resection. A modular remote monitoring and treatment service, consisting of an ambulant health monitoring module and an online exercise program, was developed to improve survivorship care following lung surgery through a user-centred design approach. Results from the requirement elicitation indicate positive intentions of both patients and professionals to use the RMT service as part of current care practice. In early phase evaluation usability and technical reliability of the developed system was found high. Future research should establish level of adoption of the system by the end users, as well as the effects on post-surgery recovery when integrated with current healthcare processes