The experiences and satisfaction of patients in outpatient cancer clinics: A scoping review

The development of outpatient cancer care raises questions regarding the conditions under which such care is delivered. The objective of this study was to conduct an exploratory analysis of the existing literature to better understand the factors contributing to patient satisfaction among adults receiving cancer treatment, with the aim of improving the overall quality of care.

The scoping review was carried out according to the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology. The literature was searched from online databases PubMed, Cairn, PsychArticles, EbscoHost, Taylor and ScienceDirect up to October 2023 using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies on the experiences and satisfaction of adult patients receiving cancer treatment in outpatient clinics were included in the scoping review. No restrictions were applied regarding the publications country and all study designs were included. The Braun and Clarke (2006) method was used to identify and analyze the various themes addressed in the selected articles.

From 11531 references identified, finally 22 articles were included in the study. Most of the articles were published after 2012. The results showed that patients talk about their experience of care, addressing the relationship with other patients and professionals, the quality of care and the care environment. Furthermore, predictive factors of patient satisfaction with cancer care were highlighted.

To our knowledge, this review is one of the first to review the literature on the experiences of adult patients receiving cancer treatment in outpatient clinics. These results demonstrate the importance of providing treatment information and involving families in outpatient cancer care. This scoping review paves the way for future research on patient experience in outpatient cancer clinics.