Aim
This study examined associations between selected dimensions of satisfaction with cancer care, global quality of life (QoL) and functioning in adults receiving systemic anticancer treatment.
Methods
This cross-sectional study with prospective patient recruitment was conducted at a tertiary cancer center in Krakow, Poland. Adults with confirmed malignancy receiving systemic treatment completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC IN-PATSAT32 questionnaires. Associations between individual satisfaction dimensions and QLQ-C30 outcomes were examined using univariable and multivariable linear regression. Variables associated with each outcome in univariable analyses were entered into the corresponding multivariable model.
Results
The study included 200 patients, comprising 133 women and 67 men, with a mean age of 57.2 years (SD 12.2). Most were treated with palliative-intent (69.5%), and 79.5% were receiving chemotherapy. Mean global health status was 60.9/100. Satisfaction was highest for nurses’ technical skills (mean 83.5), overall satisfaction (82.0), nurses’ availability (81.4) and nurses’ interpersonal skills (80.2), and lowest for hospital access (52.5), hospital comfort (66.2) and waiting times (70.5). In multivariable analysis, greater satisfaction with doctors’ technical skills was associated with higher global health status (β=0.357 per one-point increase; 95% CI 0.053–0.661; p=0.022), as was greater satisfaction with nurses’ availability (β=0.408; 95% CI 0.050–0.766; p=0.026). Higher satisfaction with waiting times was independently associated with better physical functioning (β=0.145; 95% CI 0.038–0.251; p=0.008). No independent associations between satisfaction dimensions and role, emotional, cognitive or social functioning, fatigue or pain were identified.
Conclusions
Specific dimensions of satisfaction with cancer care, rather than global satisfaction across all domains, were associated with selected patient-reported outcomes. Perceived doctors’ technical skills and nurses’ availability were linked with global health status, while satisfaction with waiting times was associated with physical functioning. These cross-sectional findings identify potentially relevant aspects of care for prospective evaluation but do not establish causality.