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Longcoy LTH, Mathew A, Jang MK, Mayahara M, Doorenbos AZ. Experiences of Using Patient Decision Aids for Decisions About Cancer Treatment: A Meta-Aggregation of Qualitative Studies. Cancer Nurs 2025; 48:81-88. [PMID: 37430415 PMCID: PMC10782815 DOI: 10.1097/ncc.0000000000001263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inconsistent results have been found regarding the effects of patient decision aids (PtDAs) in supporting patients' decision-making for cancer treatment. OBJECTIVE This qualitative meta-aggregation presents the experiences of using PtDAs, as perceived by adult patients with cancer, and highlights the components they perceived as important. METHODS We used the 3-phase process for meta-aggregation suggested by Joanna Briggs Institute to identify published studies with qualitative evidence from CINAHL, Ovid-MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, and EMBASE databases. The selected studies involved adults with various cancer diagnoses. The phenomenon of interest and the context for this review were people's experiences of using PtDAs for decisions about first-line cancer treatment. RESULTS A total of 16 studies were included. The authors achieved consensus on 5 synthesized findings about PtDAs: (1) improved understanding of treatment options and patient values and preferences; (2) served as platforms for expressing concerns, obtaining support, and having meaningful conversations with healthcare providers; (3) facilitated active personal and family engagement in decision-making; (4) enabled recall of information and evaluation of satisfaction with decisions; and (5) presented potential structural barriers. CONCLUSIONS This study used qualitative evidence to demonstrate the usefulness of PtDAs and identify aspects patients with cancer find particularly beneficial. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Nurses play a crucial role in supporting patients and family caregivers throughout the decision-making process for cancer treatment. Patient decision aids that balance complex treatment information with simple language and illustrations or graphs can enhance patients' comprehension. The integration of values clarification exercises into care can further improve patients' decisional outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ting Huang Longcoy
- Author Affiliations: College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago (Drs Longcoy and Doorenbos); Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, College of Nursing, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea (Dr Jang); College of Nursing, Christian Medical College Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India (Dr Mathew); College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Mayahara)
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Liu J, Chan SWC, Guo D, Lin Q, Hunter S, Zhu J, Lee RLT. Decisional Conflict, Patient Involvement, and the Associated Psychological Factors Relating to Mastectomy Decisions Among Women With Breast Cancer: A Cross-sectional Study. Cancer Nurs 2025; 48:45-54. [PMID: 37357347 DOI: 10.1097/ncc.0000000000001256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most women with breast cancer in China have received a mastectomy despite emerging breast-conserving alternatives. Their decision-making relating to mastectomy is unclear. OBJECTIVE To investigate decisional conflict, women's involvement, and psychological factors relating to mastectomy decisions. METHODS Women with breast cancer 18 years and older who had a mastectomy were recruited from 2 hospitals in China. A conceptual framework adapted from the Ottawa Decisional Support Framework was used to guide this study. Data were collected using the 16-item Decisional Conflict Scale, the 9-item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire, and a 19-item psychological factor list. RESULTS A total of 304 women participated. Overall, they reported a low-level conflict and high-level involvement. "Cancer not return" was rated as the most important psychological factor influencing mastectomy decisions. Lower decisional conflict was predicted by higher involvement. Higher involvement was predicted by younger age and increased family income. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to demonstrate decisional conflict, involvement, and the associated factors specifically in Chinese women undergoing mastectomy. Results determined the importance of several psychological factors influencing mastectomy decisions. Future qualitative studies are required to deepen understanding of women's decision-making experiences regarding this surgery. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Nurses need to provide support to Chinese women in making treatment decisions, especially for older women, and those who are economically disadvantaged. Measures are needed to promote their involvement and improve their understanding of breast cancer and its treatments, which may help reduce decisional conflict, and potentially improve their satisfaction with treatment and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Author Affiliations: School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia (Ms Liu, Dr Hunter, and Prof Lee); The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Prof Lee); and President Office, Tung Wah College (Prof Chan), Hong Kong; Department of Breast Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University (Ms Guo); and Department of Radiation Oncology, Xiamen Cancer Quality Control Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University (Prof Lin), Fujian; and School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen (Prof Lin and Prof Zhu), China
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Casson CA, Kushner BS, Holden TR, Majumder A, Blatnik JA, Holden SE. Patient expectations and decisional regret in the management of ventral hernias. Surg Endosc 2025; 39:522-529. [PMID: 39414667 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-024-11318-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/18/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Older adult patients have many factors to contemplate when considering elective ventral hernia repair. In this study, we aimed to understand whether our novel shared decision-making (SDM) aid helped reduce this population's decisional regret when choosing hernia management strategy. METHODS Patients ≥ 60 years of age presenting for ventral hernia evaluation were randomized to two groups. The experimental group had their visit guided by our novel SDM aid. All patients took a survey prior to consultation outlining their treatment expectations. All patients were called within 6 months to complete the Decision Regret Scale, which measures remorse after a healthcare decision. RESULTS Seventy-two patients (36 control, 36 experimental) completed final follow-up. On initial expectations evaluation, 53 patients (74%) reported wanting surgical repair and 58 patients (81%) reported expecting surgical repair. Ultimately, 18 patients in the control group and 17 patients in the experimental group did not undergo surgery. The use of the SDM aid did not affect if patients chose observation (OR 0.44, p = 0.24) or result in a lower decision regret score (9.86 vs 9.31, p = 0.89). Surgery was associated with a lower decision regret score (3.38 vs 16.14; p = 0.001). Of those who did not undergo repair, patients initially wanting or expecting surgery had higher decision regret scores (22.83 vs 3.33, p < 0.001; 20.40 vs 5.50, p = 0.009). Nonoperative patients who chose observation had less regret than those needing medical optimization (9.50 vs 25.00, p = 0.04). There were no differences in decision regret scores based on initial wants or expectations for those who had surgical repair. CONCLUSION Decisional regret following ventral hernia management is associated with patients' expectations prior to initial surgical consultation. The use of a decisional aid did not lower decision regret scores. These findings emphasize the need for upfront expectation setting and longitudinal programs to help patients reach their treatment goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron A Casson
- Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Bradley S Kushner
- Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Timothy R Holden
- Department of Medicine, Division Of Geriatrics And Nutritional Science, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Arnab Majumder
- Department of Surgery, Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Blatnik
- Department of Surgery, Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Sara E Holden
- Department of Surgery, Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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Pan C, Yin H, Xu J, Hu Y, Li Y, Yang Y. Breast cancer patients' perspectives and needs about wed-based surgical decision aid: A qualitative study. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2024; 72:102689. [PMID: 39305739 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Breast cancer diagnosis often presents patients with complex treatment decisions, particularly concerning surgical options. A patient decision aid can assist patients in making better decisions, and ultimately improving health outcomes positively. This study aims to explore the perceptions and needs of breast cancer patients regarding the utilization of wed-based surgical decision aids. METHODS A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with purposive sampling that were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo 12 software. Participants were recruited from a tertiary general hospital in Shanghai, China. Inclusion criteria were being diagnosed with breast cancer, age over 18 years old, considering breast cancer surgery as a treatment option and able/willing to give informed consent. RESULTS From March to May 2023, 16 patients consented to participate and completed the interviews. Three major themes were revealed, with corresponding sub-themes: (1) informative and useful content (need to know as much information as possible, easy to understand and presented in multiple ways and highly credible from reliable resource); (2) user-friendly on design (easy to operate, simple function and man-machine interaction); and (3) suggested timing of use. CONCLUSIONS Patients' perspectives and needs about wed-based surgical decision aids are numerous and diverse. In designing wed-based surgical decision aids for breast cancer patients, content, design and timing are all factors that need to be taken into consideration to encourage informed surgical decisions. Further work will focus on developing a feasible and acceptable web-based surgical patient decision aid (PtDA), and test its usability in a clinical setting to understand if the PtDA can meet the decisional needs of breast cancer patients, thus to improve quality of decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Pan
- Department of Nursing, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongfan Yin
- School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiehui Xu
- Department of Nursing, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yihui Hu
- Department of Nursing, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Nursing, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Nursing, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
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Xu Y, Han PP, Su XQ, Xue P, Guo YJ. Exploration of decision aids to support advance care planning: A scoping review. J Clin Nurs 2024; 33:3477-3497. [PMID: 38661107 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.17187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advance care planning is a process through which people communicate their goals and preferences for future medical care. Due to the complexity of the decision-making process, decision aids can assist individuals in balancing potential benefits and risks of treatment options. OBJECTIVE While decision aids have the potential to better promote advance care planning, their characteristics, content and application effectiveness are unclear and lack systematic review. Therefore, we aimed to explore these three aspects and establish a foundation for future research. DESIGN Scoping review. METHODS This scoping review adheres to the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and the PRISMA-ScR list. Six English-language databases were systematically searched from the time of construction until 1 December 2023. Two researchers conducted the article screening and data extraction, and the extracted data was presented in written tables and narrative summaries. RESULTS Of the 1479 titles and abstracts, 20 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Types of decision aids were employed, mainly websites and videos. Decision aid's primary components center around 11 areas, such as furnishing information, exploring treatment and care preferences. The main manifestations were a significant increase in knowledge and improved recognition of patients' target value preferences. Among the aids, websites and videos for advance care planning have relatively high content acceptability and decision-making process satisfaction, but their feasibility has yet to be tested. CONCLUSIONS Decision aids were varied, with content focused on describing key information and exploring treatment and care preferences. Regarding application effects, the aids successfully facilitated the advance care planning process and improved the quality of participants' decisions. Overall, decision aids are efficient in improving the decision-making process for implementing advance care planning in cancer and geriatric populations. In the future, personalised decision aids should be developed based on continuous optimization of tools' quality and promoted for clinical application. REPORTING METHOD The paper has adhered to the EQUATOR guidelines and referenced the PRISMAg-ScR checklist. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION This is a review without patient and public contribution. REGISTRATION https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/YPHKF, Open Science DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/YPHKF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xu
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ping-Ping Han
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Qin Su
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ping Xue
- Office of Joint Medicine, Taizhou Second People's Hospital, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu-Jie Guo
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
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Ahlstedt Karlsson S, Myrin Westesson L, Hansson E, Paganini A. Women's experiences of health care providers when choosing flat closure after breast cancer: An interview study. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2024; 70:102613. [PMID: 38795447 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to explore women's experiences with healthcare providers previous to a flat closure after breast cancer. METHODS Data was collected using individual semi-structured interviews by telephone or teleconferencing systems with 18 women who shared their experience with health care before and during flat closure operation after breast cancer or a breast gene mutation. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS The analysis generated three specific themes: (1) Striving to be recognized as a person, (2) Barriers to shared decision making and (3) A need to be empowered, indicating that women's views are not always illuminated and enquired about by health care providers. The care agenda was also more often regulated by norms and standard care than the individual women's intended goals. Furthermore, when the agenda for surgery had been previously set, the women were not presented with viable options to choose from for the upcoming surgery. For these women to influence the reality they face, they have to seek support outside of healthcare. This indicates the important role of patient networks and relatives in empowering the individual women to stand up for their choice and body. CONCLUSION In order to offer feasible surgery for women diagnosed with breast cancer or a breast mutation gene, the women's wishes regarding flat closure and what matters to her in her life must be identified. Also emphasized is the need for a more systematic approach in involving the affected women in shared decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Ahlstedt Karlsson
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Surgery, Gothenburg, Sweden; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Linda Myrin Westesson
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Emma Hansson
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Plastic Surgery, Gothenburg, Sweden; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna Paganini
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Plastic Surgery, Gothenburg, Sweden; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Stacey D, Lewis KB, Smith M, Carley M, Volk R, Douglas EE, Pacheco-Brousseau L, Finderup J, Gunderson J, Barry MJ, Bennett CL, Bravo P, Steffensen K, Gogovor A, Graham ID, Kelly SE, Légaré F, Sondergaard H, Thomson R, Trenaman L, Trevena L. Decision aids for people facing health treatment or screening decisions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024; 1:CD001431. [PMID: 38284415 PMCID: PMC10823577 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd001431.pub6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patient decision aids are interventions designed to support people making health decisions. At a minimum, patient decision aids make the decision explicit, provide evidence-based information about the options and associated benefits/harms, and help clarify personal values for features of options. This is an update of a Cochrane review that was first published in 2003 and last updated in 2017. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of patient decision aids in adults considering treatment or screening decisions using an integrated knowledge translation approach. SEARCH METHODS We conducted the updated search for the period of 2015 (last search date) to March 2022 in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, EBSCO, and grey literature. The cumulative search covers database origins to March 2022. SELECTION CRITERIA We included published randomized controlled trials comparing patient decision aids to usual care. Usual care was defined as general information, risk assessment, clinical practice guideline summaries for health consumers, placebo intervention (e.g. information on another topic), or no intervention. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently screened citations for inclusion, extracted intervention and outcome data, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Primary outcomes, based on the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS), were attributes related to the choice made (informed values-based choice congruence) and the decision-making process, such as knowledge, accurate risk perceptions, feeling informed, clear values, participation in decision-making, and adverse events. Secondary outcomes were choice, confidence in decision-making, adherence to the chosen option, preference-linked health outcomes, and impact on the healthcare system (e.g. consultation length). We pooled results using mean differences (MDs) and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), applying a random-effects model. We conducted a subgroup analysis of 105 studies that were included in the previous review version compared to those published since that update (n = 104 studies). We used Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) to assess the certainty of the evidence. MAIN RESULTS This update added 104 new studies for a total of 209 studies involving 107,698 participants. The patient decision aids focused on 71 different decisions. The most common decisions were about cardiovascular treatments (n = 22 studies), cancer screening (n = 17 studies colorectal, 15 prostate, 12 breast), cancer treatments (e.g. 15 breast, 11 prostate), mental health treatments (n = 10 studies), and joint replacement surgery (n = 9 studies). When assessing risk of bias in the included studies, we rated two items as mostly unclear (selective reporting: 100 studies; blinding of participants/personnel: 161 studies), due to inadequate reporting. Of the 209 included studies, 34 had at least one item rated as high risk of bias. There was moderate-certainty evidence that patient decision aids probably increase the congruence between informed values and care choices compared to usual care (RR 1.75, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.13; 21 studies, 9377 participants). Regarding attributes related to the decision-making process and compared to usual care, there was high-certainty evidence that patient decision aids result in improved participants' knowledge (MD 11.90/100, 95% CI 10.60 to 13.19; 107 studies, 25,492 participants), accuracy of risk perceptions (RR 1.94, 95% CI 1.61 to 2.34; 25 studies, 7796 participants), and decreased decisional conflict related to feeling uninformed (MD -10.02, 95% CI -12.31 to -7.74; 58 studies, 12,104 participants), indecision about personal values (MD -7.86, 95% CI -9.69 to -6.02; 55 studies, 11,880 participants), and proportion of people who were passive in decision-making (clinician-controlled) (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.88; 21 studies, 4348 participants). For adverse outcomes, there was high-certainty evidence that there was no difference in decision regret between the patient decision aid and usual care groups (MD -1.23, 95% CI -3.05 to 0.59; 22 studies, 3707 participants). Of note, there was no difference in the length of consultation when patient decision aids were used in preparation for the consultation (MD -2.97 minutes, 95% CI -7.84 to 1.90; 5 studies, 420 participants). When patient decision aids were used during the consultation with the clinician, the length of consultation was 1.5 minutes longer (MD 1.50 minutes, 95% CI 0.79 to 2.20; 8 studies, 2702 participants). We found the same direction of effect when we compared results for patient decision aid studies reported in the previous update compared to studies conducted since 2015. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Compared to usual care, across a wide variety of decisions, patient decision aids probably helped more adults reach informed values-congruent choices. They led to large increases in knowledge, accurate risk perceptions, and an active role in decision-making. Our updated review also found that patient decision aids increased patients' feeling informed and clear about their personal values. There was no difference in decision regret between people using decision aids versus those receiving usual care. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of patient decision aids on adherence and downstream effects on cost and resource use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn Stacey
- School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Centre for Implementation Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | | | - Meg Carley
- Centre for Implementation Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Robert Volk
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elisa E Douglas
- Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Jeanette Finderup
- Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Michael J Barry
- Informed Medical Decisions Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carol L Bennett
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Paulina Bravo
- Education and Cancer Prevention, Fundación Arturo López Pérez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karina Steffensen
- Center for Shared Decision Making, IRS - Lillebælt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark
| | - Amédé Gogovor
- VITAM - Centre de recherche en santé durable, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ian D Graham
- Centre for Implementation Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventative Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Shannon E Kelly
- Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - France Légaré
- Centre de recherche sur les soins et les services de première ligne de l'Université Laval (CERSSPL-UL), Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Richard Thomson
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Logan Trenaman
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Bruce L, Khouri AN, Bolze A, Ibarra M, Richards B, Khalatbari S, Blasdel G, Hamill JB, Hsu JJ, Wilkins EG, Morrison SD, Lane M. Long-Term Regret and Satisfaction With Decision Following Gender-Affirming Mastectomy. JAMA Surg 2023; 158:1070-1077. [PMID: 37556147 PMCID: PMC10413215 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2023.3352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Importance There has been increasing legislative interest in regulating gender-affirming surgery, in part due to the concern about decisional regret. The regret rate following gender-affirming surgery is thought to be approximately 1%; however, previous studies relied heavily on ad hoc instruments. Objective To evaluate long-term decisional regret and satisfaction with decision using validated instruments following gender-affirming mastectomy. Design, Setting, and Participants For this cross-sectional study, a survey of patient-reported outcomes was sent between February 1 and July 31, 2022, to patients who had undergone gender-affirming mastectomy at a US tertiary referral center between January 1, 1990, and February 29, 2020. Exposure Decisional regret and satisfaction with decision to undergo gender-affirming mastectomy. Main Outcomes and Measures Long-term patient-reported outcomes, including the Holmes-Rovner Satisfaction With Decision scale, the Decision Regret Scale, and demographic characteristics, were collected. Additional information was collected via medical record review. Descriptive statistics and univariable analysis using Fisher exact and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were performed to compare responders and nonresponders. Results A total of 235 patients were deemed eligible for the study, and 139 responded (59.1% response rate). Median age at the time of surgery was 27.1 (IQR, 23.0-33.4) years for responders and 26.4 (IQR, 23.1-32.7) years for nonresponders. Nonresponders (n = 96) had a longer postoperative follow-up period than responders (median follow-up, 4.6 [IQR, 3.1-8.6] vs 3.6 [IQR, 2.7-5.3] years, respectively; P = .002). Nonresponders vs responders also had lower rates of depression (42 [44%] vs 94 [68%]; P < .001) and anxiety (42 [44%] vs 97 [70%]; P < .001). No responders or nonresponders requested or underwent a reversal procedure. The median Satisfaction With Decision Scale score was 5.0 (IQR, 5.0-5.0) on a 5-point scale, with higher scores noting higher satisfaction. The median Decision Regret Scale score was 0.0 (IQR, 0.0-0.0) on a 100-point scale, with lower scores noting lower levels of regret. A univariable regression analysis could not be performed to identify characteristics associated with low satisfaction with decision or high decisional regret due to the lack of variation in these responses. Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional survey study, the results of validated survey instruments indicated low rates of decisional regret and high levels of satisfaction with decision following gender-affirming mastectomy. The lack of dissatisfaction and regret impeded the ability to perform a more complex statistical analysis, highlighting the need for condition-specific instruments to assess decisional regret and satisfaction with decision following gender-affirming surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Bruce
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | | | - Andrew Bolze
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Maria Ibarra
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Blair Richards
- Michigan Institute for Clinical Health Research, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | | | | | - Jessica J. Hsu
- Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Edwin G. Wilkins
- Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor
| | | | - Megan Lane
- Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor
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