Integration of Behavioral Cough Suppression Therapy Into Lung Cancer Care: Nonpharmacologic Interventions for Chronic Cough

Background: Chronic cough is a demanding symptom of lung cancer. Clinical research tends to underestimate the impact of lung cancer–related cough on patient quality of life. Current guidelines do not describe how oncology nurses, as a vital part of the interprofessional team, can use nonpharmacologic interventions described by behavioral cough suppression therapy (BCST) techniques for patients with lung cancer.

Objectives: This article aims to provide oncology nurses with insight into BCST and investigates how to integrate BCST into lung cancer care.

Methods: A literature search for primary articles related to BCST was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed^® and CINAHL^®. The 2017 American College of Chest Physicians’ guideline and expert panel report served as a major resource.

Findings: Oncology nurses can investigate the use of BCST techniques for patients with lung cancer with chronic cough as a nonpharmacologic intervention. Assessment of patients with chronic cough should be carried out before initiating referral for BCST, including identifying cough triggers, causes of cough, and cough types.