Oncology patients requiring outpatient services have expectations that must be addressed to ensure continuous and improved quality of care. A convenience sample of 96 patients recruited from an oncology outpatient center completed a 26-item patient satisfaction questionnaire (SEQUS). Overall satisfaction ratings indicate that patients are satisfied with their care. Patients' perception of waiting time and lack of questioning regarding their medications by the pharmacist were identified as two areas needing improvement. Findings suggest that by identifying what is most important to patients, nurses can readily modify the care environment to enhance patient satisfaction and quality of care.

Obese and morbidly obese patients with endometrial cancer are also good candidates for robotic surgery. These women benefit considerably from minimal invasive surgery and have little perioperative complications.

This qualitative study explored the meaning of quality of life (QOL) from the perspective of palliative care patients by examining their lived experiences and their perceptions of what contributes to their QOL. Ten in-patients — five women and five men — took part in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. When asked about their QOL, they spoke about three distinct aspects: the meaning of a quality life at this stage in their illness trajectory, the experience of living with the illness, and factors that contributed to their QOL. Patients’ approach to life, illness life, and ideal quality life were found to create a sphere of influence that shaped their end-of-life experience. At the heart of living a quality end of life for these patients was their ability to “do the things that I usually do,” “be helpful to others,” and “live in a caring environment,” The findings highlight the importance of understanding each of these factors: patients’ approach to life, illness life, and ideal quality of life, and what they mean to patients in order to tailor interventions to enhance their QOL.