# Living with knowledge gap and psychological burdens: understanding the attitudes, barriers, and support needs for pulmonary rehabilitation among oral and maxillofacial cancer patients in China

## TL;DR

This study explores how oral and maxillofacial cancer patients and caregivers in China view pulmonary rehabilitation and identifies barriers and support needs.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into culturally tailored pulmonary rehabilitation needs for oral and maxillofacial cancer patients in China.

## Key findings

- Five key themes emerged, including perceptions of PR and psychological burdens.
- Participants highlighted the need for patient-centered PR programs.
- Findings suggest that tailored PR could improve quality of life and outcomes.

## Abstract

This study aimed to explore the attitudes, challenges, and support needs related to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among patients with oral and maxillofacial cancers and their caregivers in China.

We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of patients, both pre- and post-surgery, and their caregivers at a tertiary hospital in Chengdu, China. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

A total of 14 participants (7 patients and 7 caregivers) were interviewed. Five key themes and thirteen sub-themes emerged: (1) perceptions and attitudes toward PR, (2) multifactorial influences on participation, (3) preferences for PR education formats, (4) challenges in engaging with PR, and (5) psychological burden and the need for information support.

This study offers critical insights into the barriers and facilitators of PR for oral and maxillofacial cancer patients in China. Findings underscore the need for culturally tailored, patient-centered PR programs that address both physical and psychological recovery. Improved PR initiatives could enhance pulmonary function, quality of life, and overall outcomes for this vulnerable population, offering valuable implications for healthcare stakeholders and policymakers in China and similar settings worldwide.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00520-025-10301-6.