Abstract
Abstract only
e14138
Background: Diagnosis and treatment of cancer are regarded as stressful experiences impacting the patients and their families. This study aims at comparing the Saudi cancer patient experience with the United Kingdom cancer patient experience throughout their continuum of care. Methods: Results from the United Kingdom (UK) National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES 2017) were compared to the reported results from the experience of 100 cancer patients for the same year at the National Guard Health affairs Health system in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Similar concepts relating to the experience were investigated and compared. Results: Compared to the UK survey, the Saudi survey had mainly higher score regarding receiving an overall positive cancer care. Scores related to provision of clear answers to all important questions, judging the hospital staff as always working well together, and family members being given the opportunity to communicate with the doctor were significantly higher among Saudis. The UK patient scored significantly higher on receiving information about diagnostic tests, treatment side effects, and discharge instructions, and being informed about support groups and on-going cancer research. Conclusions: The overall experience of the Saudi cancer patients compared favorably to the UK cancer patients; however, in the domain of information provision as an essential part of the cancer experience is still lacking in the Saudi cancer care approach. Quality improvement should focus on the findings of this study for better health outcomes. [Table: see text]