Impact of patient education and care on quality of life and mental well-being in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: a systematic review

Quality of life (QoL) and mental well-being are critical outcomes for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). This systematic review examined the impact of patient education and care interventions on QoL and psychological well-being among adults receiving RT. This review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines; 33 studies were identified from 723 screened articles. Most interventions, such as structured education, counseling, and multidisciplinary support, demonstrated significant improvements in at least one QoL domain, reduced anxiety or depression, and increased patient satisfaction compared with standard care. Key factors influencing effectiveness included age, education level, social support, and treatment duration. Overall, evidence supports the integration of individualized patient education and supportive care into radiotherapy practice. Routine use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), such as the EORTC QLQ-C30, can facilitate early identification of declining well-being and guide tailored interventions to enhance patient outcomes. The objective of this study is to systematically review evidence on the effect of patient education and care interventions on quality of life, mental well-being, and patient satisfaction among cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.