Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To develop a prehabilitation program for elderly patients with esophageal cancer before surgery. METHODS: Relevant studies on prehabilitation for esophageal cancer were comprehensively searched and analyzed to summarize the best available evidence. A preliminary prehabilitation program was drafted through group discussion and subsequently refined via two rounds of expert consultation using the Delphi method, resulting in the final program. RESULTS: The prehabilitation program for elderly patients with esophageal cancer before surgery includes 5 first-level items, 12 second-level items, and 35 third-level items. CONCLUSION: The prehabilitation program for elderly patients with esophageal cancer before surgery demonstrates certain scientific validity and reliability, providing a reference for healthcare professionals in guiding patients' prehabilitation.