Summary table of the PICOTS used as selection criteria
| Population | Any population of adult participants (18 years or older) who have had any type of lung or pleural surgery. |
| Index prognostic factors | Pre-identified prognostic factors: Preoperative pain, postoperative pain, pain catastrophising score, age, gender, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, exercise tolerance, malignant diseases, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery duration, anaesthesia technique and surgical technique. Any newly identified prognostic factors will also be considered. |
| Comparator prognostic factors | Because we will systematically identify all prognostic factors and summarise the evidence, no comparator prognostic factors are involved. |
| Outcome | Chronic post-surgical pain as outcome. |
| Timing | Follow-up of 3 months or more. |
| Setting | Any healthcare setting. |