Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to present and analyze the results obtained from satisfaction surveys of oncology patients diagnosed with lung cancer. Surveys were part of the pilot project of the National Cancer Network in Poland, conducted between 2019 and 2023, using data collected from the largest oncology center in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, with population of 2.9 million. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Anonymous and voluntary surveys from 2019 to 2023 were analyzed. The questions focused on aspects related to patient satisfaction, including hospital stay, medical care, the scope of information provided about the treatment process, and selected elements of the National Cancer Network pilot. The surveys were completed by both hospitalized and outpatient patients. A total of 260 surveys were assessed, with a response rate of 5.80%. The aspect that received the lowest score was the scope and flow of information provided by medical personnel (average 4.44 ± 0.75). The highest score was given to support from the Oncology Care Coordinator, with 86% of respondents giving positive ratings. In the cross-analysis, statistical significance was found for the assessment of hospital meal quality, differentiated by both gender (p=0.041) and age (p=0.041) of the patients. Additionally, the sense of intimacy during medical procedures had the strongest impact on overall patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Our analysis of satisfaction surveys highlights important elements of healthcare that affect overall satisfaction. Presented results provide valuable insights for further improving the quality of oncology care in Poland, with an emphasis on enhancing staff-patient communication. At our center, future studies need higher survey response rates, as the low participation was this study's main limitation and may have caused response bias.