Problem identification: Improving quality of life (QOL) is a key issue for patients with lung cancer. Exercise interventions could positively affect patients' QOL; however, there is no clear-cut understanding of the role of exercise in improving QOL in patients with lung cancer.
Literature search: The PubMed®, Embase®, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science electronic databases were searched from inception to September 6, 2019.
Data evaluation: 16 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. A qualitative synthesis method was used to identify the effect of exercise interventions on QOL in patients with lung cancer.
Synthesis: This review indicates that exercise interventions may have beneficial effects on the QOL of patients with lung cancer. The effectiveness seems to be affected by the duration of the intervention, as well as exercise frequency, intensity, and adherence.
Implications for practice: Exercise interventions can be integrated into management plans for patients with lung cancer to improve their QOL. Healthcare providers should consider developing optimal exercise prescriptions to maximize the results for this population.
Keywords: exercise; lung cancer; quality of life; systematic review.