ArticlePloS one2026
Assessing the impact of timely diagnosis on psychological outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients: A scoping review.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
objectiveWe explored the literature on timely cancer diagnosis and its significance on psychological outcomes or quality of life in cancer patients.
designA scoping review to map existing literature in this area, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.
resultsSix studies were identified. Four studies used cross-sectional surveys, and one each used qualitative and mixed-method designs. Quantitative evidence suggests that timely diagnosis was associated with better psychological outcomes and quality of life. Qualitative and mixed-method evidence found an incidental relationship, but it was not a focus of the studies. There were varied definitions of timely diagnosis, and a diverse range of measures were used to identify outcomes. No study satisfied all quality appraisal criteria, with key dates in the diagnostic journey being the least reported (0/6 studies).
conclusionsPreliminary evidence indicates that timely diagnosis may be associated with variations in psychological outcomes and quality of life in patients with cancer; however, methodological heterogeneity restricts the generalisability of the findings. More high-quality longitudinal quantitative and qualitative research is needed to explore the direction of the association and lived experience during the adjustment process.
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