The Interplay of Quality of Life and Satisfaction with Nursing Care in Cancer Patients: A Narrative Review.

This narrative review explores the interconnected relationship between quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with nursing care (SNC) among cancer patients, recognizing that cancer's burden extends beyond survival and significantly affects physical, psychological, and social well-being. A non-systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Google Scholar (2000-2025) identified relevant literature using keywords related to oncology nursing, QoL, SNC and patient satisfaction. Inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed studies (quantitative, qualitative, and reviews) involving adult cancer populations and validated assessment instruments. Pediatric and non-nursing studies were excluded. Both QoL and SNC are critical outcomes in cancer care. QoL is an individual's subjective perception and SNC reflects the patient's subjective evaluation of how well nursing services align with their expectations, encompassing empathy, competence, and responsiveness. Research consistently demonstrates a strong positive association between high SNC and superior QoL outcomes, particularly through effective pain and symptom management, reducing psychological distress, and fostering patient empowerment. This relationship, however, is moderated by factors such as the patient's disease stage, the type of care (hospital vs. palliative/home care), and organizational deficits like high nurse workload, which can undermine the delivery of high-quality care. Ultimately, ethical nursing practices are crucial for translating professional duty into positive patient experiences that are favorably linked with both SNC and QoL outcomes for cancer patients.