The experience of time toxicity in cancer patients: a meta-synthesis of qualitative research.

Authors

Yanan Shi, Ping Wang, Jingxu Ji, Xiang Zhao, Xiaohui Wang

Published in

Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. Volume 34. Issue 7. Jul 03, 2026. Epub Jul 03, 2026.

Abstract

To systematically synthesize cancer patients' experiences of time toxicity and provide evidence-based recommendations for developing intervention strategies.
A comprehensive search strategy was employed to identify qualitative studies examining the phenomenon of time toxicity in cancer patients. This search was executed across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL (EBSCO), CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed, encompassing all records from the inception of each database up to December 5, 2025. The methodological rigor of the selected studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. Subsequently, the findings were synthesized utilizing the JBI meta-aggregative approach and reported in alignment with the ENTREQ guidelines to ensure transparency and rigor in qualitative synthesis.
Six articles were incorporated into the study, yielding a total of 26 findings. These findings were systematically classified into eight novel categories, which were then synthesized into three comprehensive integrated findings: (1) sources of time toxicity; (2) impacts of time toxicity; and (3) patients' active coping mechanisms for time toxicity and their expectations for support from healthcare professionals.
Cancer patients experience treatment-related time toxicity and home care-related time toxicity, which adversely affects their daily lives, emotional well-being, and treatment adherence. Healthcare providers should acknowledge patients' time toxicity and provide personalized treatment schedule information; multi-dimensional assessment tools for time toxicity need further development and clinical verification in subsequent studies.

PMID:
42397448
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 03 Jul 2026.

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