Research trends and issues in the lives of patients with cancer living alone undergoing chemotherapy: A scoping review

The number of patients with cancer living alone is increasing, highlighting the need for comprehensive support during chemotherapy. This scoping review aimed to organize existing findings on the lives of these patients during treatment and identify research trends and issues. A literature search was conducted using the Japan Medical Abstracts Society Web, PubMed, and CINAHL with the keywords "cancer," "chemotherapy," and "living alone." From an initial 106 articles, 36 relevant studies were selected, including 23 quantitative, 11 qualitative, and 2 mixed-methods studies. Four key themes emerged: treatment selection and management, coping with adverse events, building support systems with healthcare professionals, and the impact of treatment on daily life. Differences related to cancer type and treatment background, such as adjuvant therapy, were also observed. While many studies targeted older adults, few examined the roles, social backgrounds, and specific needs of adult patients living alone or the influence of recent anticancer therapies. Therefore, this review suggests that future research focus on adult patients with cancer and explore how living alone affects social roles and support needs. Moreover, a nuanced understanding of daily life during chemotherapy, considering individual treatment contexts, is essential for developing tailored support strategies.