Patient-Centered Outcomes in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Management: A Comprehensive Review

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most prevalent type of cancer worldwide, with a significantly rising incidence. While postoperative patient satisfaction and quality of life (QoL) are key metrics in cancer care, they are understudied with regard to NMSC care. This review aimed to summarize the existing data investigating the QoL outcomes after treatment of NMSC and the determinants of patient satisfaction in NMSC management. PubMed, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to December 1, 2023. Twenty eligible studies were identified, with 7 examining patient satisfaction, 12 examining QoL, and 1 looking at both. The studies used various tools, with the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire being the most common for assessing patient satisfaction, and the Skin Cancer Index for QoL. Many factors (some controllable, others non-controllable) were found to influence postoperative patient satisfaction, such as preoperative QoL and interpersonal manners of the providers. QoL outcomes were often but not always linked with patient satisfaction and influenced by several factors, such as age, pretreatment mental health, and tumor localization. Clinicians should consider patient perspectives when determining the effectiveness of interventions for NMSC patients. Understanding the factors that influence patient satisfaction and QoL is crucial in delivering comprehensive patient care.