RCC Patients’ Experiences From the Health Care Services Provided in the Greek Public Hospitals

OBJECTIVES: Renal Cell Cancer (RCC) is a prevalent kidney cancer, comprising 2-3% of global cancer cases. While extensive research exists about the disease and RCC patients’ quality of life, there is a gap in understanding their experiences of the health care they receive. The aim of this study was to evaluate RCC patients’ experiences from the health care provided in Greek Public Hospitals.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 in a sample of 69 patients, derived from three Greek Public Hospitals, which are considered scientific oncology centers of excellence for the country. Data was collected by the researchers via phone interviews. Two questionnaires were used to evaluate patients’ experiences regarding the perceived quality of care prior and during their hospitalization for surgery or therapy.

RESULTS: On a scale of 0 to 10, surgical patients rated their cancer care experience at 9.5 and their surgery team at 9.4. All patients reported good coordination of care and organized hospital admission, though some noted the need for improved room comfort, staff availability, and more information on patient rights and benefits. Chemotherapy/immunotherapy patients rated the cancer care team 8.8 at Alexandra Hospital and 9.3 at Papageorgiou Hospital, noting continuous staff availability. 80% stated that they were involved in treatment decisions, while 45% reported poor interdepartmental collaboration. The main improvement area was the need for more staff to reduce wait times and therapy delays.

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of patient-centered care and systemic enhancements in RCC care delivery. By addressing the challenges, healthcare systems can offer more tailored and effective care experiences, which will lead to improved patient outcomes.