Effects of physiotherapy intervention in lung cancer patients under palliative care: integrative literature review

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the most common and lethal neoplasms. Its presence entails several functional repercussions, threatening the continuity of life. As the disease progresses, palliative care physiotherapy enters this scenario as a means of promoting functionality, quality of life, autonomy and dignity for the patient and his family, in a biopsychosocial way. This research aimed to verify the effects of the physiotherapy approach in patients with lung cancer under palliative care, to identify the attributions and limitations of physiotherapy in the palliative care of patients with lung cancer; and to know the physiotherapeutic interventions used in the functional repercussions of lung cancer, such as: dyspnea, cough, pain and fatigue. This is an integrative literature review carried out in the scientific databases PubMed, PEDro, Virtual Health Library and Google Scholar, through publications from the last ten years (2012-2022). The descriptors used were lung cancer (lung cancer), physiotherapy (physiotherapy) and palliative care (palliative care), including 12 articles that covered the established objectives. The selected studies showed a predominance of patients in advanced stages of cancer, who present great loss of muscle mass, decreased muscle strength, fatigue, as well as depression and anxiety. The physiotherapeutic resource most reported in the literature was kinesiotherapy, with emphasis on resistance and aerobic exercise programs Most outcomes showed benefits, such as reduction in levels of fatigue, dyspnea, pain, improvement in performance status, level activity, self-esteem, functional capacity and emotional aspects, resulting in maintenance of quality of life. On the other hand, the samples and interventions were not homogeneous, which in some of the studies may not have shown significant improvements in such dysfunctions. In view of the above, it is evident that physiotherapists need continuous improvement in palliative care, and must understand each phase of the process, which leads to use and when to use them, without subjecting the patient to futile measures or not providing adequate proportionate care.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/colleinternhealthscienv1-055