ObjectivesTo construct a symptom assessment system suitable for surgical lung cancer patients, and to objectively evaluate the types and severity of postoperative symptoms in patients so as to provide evidence-based basis for the treatment of postoperative symptoms of lung cancer patients.MethodsPostoperative symptom items of lung cancer were formed according to previous researches, literature review, the current lung cancer symptom assessment tools, and expert interviews. The Delphi method was used to conduct two rounds of expert consultation and a postoperative symptom inventory was established for lung cancer patients.ResultsNine first-level symptom items were eventually formed: cough, pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, subcutaneous emphysema, insomnia, and constipation. The first round of active coefficient and authority coefficient of experts were 85.0% and 0.88, and the second round were 88.2% and 0.87. The Kendall coordination coefficients of the nine first-level symptom items were 0.47 (P<0.001) and 0.43 (P<0.001), respectively.ConclusionsThe evaluation system of postoperative symptom items for lung cancer patients is highly recognized by experts and has good consistency.