Behavioral speech therapy intervention can improve the postoperative pain and performance status of lung cancer patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND

Pain is common after lung surgery, yet non-pharmacological strategies remain underutilized. Behavioral Speech Therapy (BST) may improve recovery for thoracoscopic surgery patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether BST reduces pain and improves physical function after thoracoscopic lung cancer surgery.

METHODS

This secondary analysis of a registered trial (ChiCTR2400084313, originally evaluating BST for postoperative cough) used data from 112 patients who were assigned to routine care alone (control) or routine care plus BST (intervention). Pain (VAS, range 0-10 scores) and function (ECOG score, range 0-4 scores) were assessed at baseline (preoperative), 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. All outcomes were evaluated by blinded assessors at three time points: preoperative (T0), 1 month post-surgery (T1), and 3 months post-surgery (T2). A mixed-effects model was used for analysis.

RESULTS

At 1 month, the control group's VAS worsened more than the BST group (MD -0.63, 95% CI: -1.07 to -0.19, P = 0.01) in Model 3. At 3 months, the between-group difference favored BST (MD -0.88, 95% CI: -1.32 to -0.44, P < 0.001). ECOG analysis showed a significant between-group difference at 1 month favoring BST (MD -0.27, 95% CI: -0.49 to -0.06, P = 0.01). The difference at 3 months was not statistically significant (MD -0.20, 95% CI: -0.42 to 0.01, P = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

BST reduces postoperative pain at 1 and 3 months and improves physical function at 1 month, suggesting its potential as a low-risk, non-pharmacological adjunct for pain management within enhanced recovery after surgery pathways.