The role of compassion, communication, and teamwork on missed nursing care in the oncology units: fi ndings of a scoping review

Introduction. Missed nursing care (MNC) refers to the omission or delay of care resulting from systemic problems, which is particularly dangerous in oncology and places a burden on patients and nurses. Aim. To map and summarize empirical studies-qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods-examining the role of compassion, teamwork, and communication in multidisciplinary nursing care among oncology nurses. Material and methods. A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework. Five electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and ProQuest (Health and Medical Complete) were systematically searched, and the reference lists of included articles were manually screened to identify additional studies. Eligible studies were empirical (qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods), published in peer-reviewed journals and written in English. Grey literature, including dissertations, was also considered. Data were charted and analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach. Conclusions. This scoping review suggests that teamwork and communication influence the occurrence of missed nursing care in oncology, although the current evidence base remains fragmented and limited. Notably, compassion is underexplored, and existing research on communication and teamwork often overlooks the relational and ethical dimensions of nursing practice, underscoring the need for more comprehensive investigation.