Assessing the Role of Home-Based Exercise in Enhancing Quality of Life for Lung Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

Lung cancer and its treatment can have a substantial impact on patients’ quality of life, particularly during recovery following surgery. Many patients experience fatigue, reduced physical function, and ongoing limitations in daily activities. Access to traditional, centre-based rehabilitation can be challenging, creating a need for more flexible and accessible approaches to supportive care.This poster presents a systematic review examining whether home-based exercise programmes can improve health-related quality of life in people with lung cancer. A comprehensive search of major health and medical databases was conducted to identify clinical studies evaluating home-based exercise interventions and quality-of-life outcomes. Five studies, involving a total of 301 participants, met the inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of each study was assessed, and findings were synthesised narratively in line with PRISMA 2020 reporting standards.Across the included studies, home-based exercise was generally associated with improvements in quality of life, with four studies reporting statistically significant benefits. Most participants were undergoing or recovering from lung resection surgery, suggesting that home-based exercise may be particularly relevant during post-surgical recovery.While the findings indicate potential benefits, there remains uncertainty regarding the optimal exercise intensity, duration, and timing. Further high-quality randomised controlled trials are needed to inform clear clinical guidance and policy decisions. Overall, the evidence supports consideration of home-based exercise as a component of lung cancer rehabilitation pathways, particularly where access to centre-based services is limited. Presentation ContextThis poster was presented at Posters in Parliament, held on 25 February 2026 at Portcullis House, UK Houses of Parliament, London.