Evaluation of patient-reported outcome assessment tools for lung cancer: protocol for a systematic review of measurement properties

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review will be to appraise the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome assessment tools for lung cancer. INTRODUCTION: Patients with lung cancer manifest varying degrees of physical and psychosocial symptoms attributable to disease pathology and treatment-related complications, which significantly impair their quality of life. Although a few patient-reported outcome assessment tools are available for lung cancer, a comprehensive and standardized comparative analysis of their measurement properties is notably lacking. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Eligible studies will include patients aged ≥18 years who are diagnosed with lung cancer at any disease stage (I-IV), regardless of treatment modality (eg, surgery, pharmacotherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, neoadjuvant therapy, palliative care). Empirical studies that examine the development or validation of patient-reported outcome measures for patients with lung cancer will be considered if they evaluate at least 1 measurement property (eg, reliability, validity, responsiveness). METHODS: The following databases will be searched: PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Library, Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), CNKI, Wanfang, SINOMED, and Weipu. To minimize publication bias and identify unpublished studies, gray literature sources will also be explored, including unpublished agency reports, professional organization websites, and dissertation/thesis databases, etc. Two reviewers will independently conduct study selection and data extraction. Methodological quality appraisal, synthesis of the quality of PROMs, and evidence quality grading will be conducted by 2 reviewers, in strict accordance with the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) methodology. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD420251028373.