Introduction:
Postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation is a very important part of the treatment and nursing care of patients with lung cancer. We aimed to evaluate the effects of the 5E (encouragement, education, exercise, employment and evaluation)-led hospital-community-family care model in patients with lung cancer.

Material and methods:
Patients with lung cancer undergoing surgical treatment in our hospital between January 1, 2021 and February 15, 2022 were selected. The patients were randomly assigned to the control and 5E group. The cardio-pulmonary function, quality of life and psychosocial adjustment level were evaluated and compared.

Results:
A total of 154 patients with lung cancer comprising 78 patients in the control group and 76 patients in the 5E groups were included. There were significant differences in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months follow-up between the two groups (all p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the FEV1/FVC and peak expiratory flow (PEF) at 6 months follow-up between the control group and 5E group (all p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the 6 min walking test (6MWT), World Health Organization Quality of Life-100 Scale (WHOQOL-100) score and Self-report Psycho-social Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR) score at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months follow-up between the two groups (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions:
The 5E-led hospital-community-family care model is beneficial to improve the cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in patients with lung cancer, which may be worth promoting and using in clinical care of patients with lung cancer.