Decision regret in patients with head-and-neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy
Purpose: Head-and-neck cancer patients often face decisions between treatment options with similar oncological outcomes. In this context, decision regret becomes a central concern, particularly within the framework of shared decision-making. This study aims to assess the prevalence of decision regre...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405630825000977 |
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| author | Anna-Maria Tews Andreas Hinz Valentin Magnus Anna Boide Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf Clemens Seidel Nils Henrik Nicolay Alexander Rühle |
| author_facet | Anna-Maria Tews Andreas Hinz Valentin Magnus Anna Boide Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf Clemens Seidel Nils Henrik Nicolay Alexander Rühle |
| author_sort | Anna-Maria Tews |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Head-and-neck cancer patients often face decisions between treatment options with similar oncological outcomes. In this context, decision regret becomes a central concern, particularly within the framework of shared decision-making. This study aims to assess the prevalence of decision regret and identify associated risk factors among head-and-neck cancer patients. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included patients who underwent curative radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer. Decision regret was assessed using the Decision Regret Scale (DRS). Additional patient-reported outcomes included health-related quality of life (HRQoL), psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and fear of cancer progression (FoP). Results: Of 300 eligible patients, 192 participated and filled out the DRS. The median age was 59 years (IQR, 45–65), and the median time between the end of radiotherapy and study participation was 45.5 months (IQR, 24–68.5). No decision regret (0 points) in terms of radiotherapy was reported by 27 %, mild regret (1–25 points) by 34 %, and high regret (>25 points) by 39 %. The mean (SD) DRS score regarding radiotherapy, systemic treatment, and surgery was 23.6 (22.4), 20.8 (19.3), and 20.9 (22.2), respectively. Decision regret was associated with HRQoL (r = -0.34, p < 0.001), distress (r = 0.25, p < 0.001), anxiety (r = 0.20, p < 0.01), depression (r = 0.19, p < 0.01), and FoP (r = 0.29, p < 0.001). In the multiple regression, a poorer ECOG status (β = 0.18, p < 0.01), lower HRQoL (β = -0.22, p < 0.01), and higher FoP (β = 0.19, p < 0.05) were associated with decision regret. Conclusions: More than one-third of head-and-neck cancer patients report high decision regret. These findings highlight the need for enhanced shared decision-making to mitigate decision regret in head-and-neck oncology. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1ecd57cd0e324db1a230134a30cb8455 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2405-6308 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1ecd57cd0e324db1a230134a30cb84552025-08-20T03:38:59ZengElsevierClinical and Translational Radiation Oncology2405-63082025-09-015410100510.1016/j.ctro.2025.101005Decision regret in patients with head-and-neck cancer undergoing radiotherapyAnna-Maria Tews0Andreas Hinz1Valentin Magnus2Anna Boide3Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf4Clemens Seidel5Nils Henrik Nicolay6Alexander Rühle7Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyComprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, Partner Site Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, Partner Site Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyComprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, Partner Site Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, Partner Site Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, Partner Site Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, Partner Site Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Corresponding author.Purpose: Head-and-neck cancer patients often face decisions between treatment options with similar oncological outcomes. In this context, decision regret becomes a central concern, particularly within the framework of shared decision-making. This study aims to assess the prevalence of decision regret and identify associated risk factors among head-and-neck cancer patients. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included patients who underwent curative radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer. Decision regret was assessed using the Decision Regret Scale (DRS). Additional patient-reported outcomes included health-related quality of life (HRQoL), psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and fear of cancer progression (FoP). Results: Of 300 eligible patients, 192 participated and filled out the DRS. The median age was 59 years (IQR, 45–65), and the median time between the end of radiotherapy and study participation was 45.5 months (IQR, 24–68.5). No decision regret (0 points) in terms of radiotherapy was reported by 27 %, mild regret (1–25 points) by 34 %, and high regret (>25 points) by 39 %. The mean (SD) DRS score regarding radiotherapy, systemic treatment, and surgery was 23.6 (22.4), 20.8 (19.3), and 20.9 (22.2), respectively. Decision regret was associated with HRQoL (r = -0.34, p < 0.001), distress (r = 0.25, p < 0.001), anxiety (r = 0.20, p < 0.01), depression (r = 0.19, p < 0.01), and FoP (r = 0.29, p < 0.001). In the multiple regression, a poorer ECOG status (β = 0.18, p < 0.01), lower HRQoL (β = -0.22, p < 0.01), and higher FoP (β = 0.19, p < 0.05) were associated with decision regret. Conclusions: More than one-third of head-and-neck cancer patients report high decision regret. These findings highlight the need for enhanced shared decision-making to mitigate decision regret in head-and-neck oncology.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405630825000977RadiotherapyChemotherapySurgeryHead-and-neck cancerDecision regretPsycho-oncology |
| spellingShingle | Anna-Maria Tews Andreas Hinz Valentin Magnus Anna Boide Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf Clemens Seidel Nils Henrik Nicolay Alexander Rühle Decision regret in patients with head-and-neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology Radiotherapy Chemotherapy Surgery Head-and-neck cancer Decision regret Psycho-oncology |
| title | Decision regret in patients with head-and-neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy |
| title_full | Decision regret in patients with head-and-neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy |
| title_fullStr | Decision regret in patients with head-and-neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decision regret in patients with head-and-neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy |
| title_short | Decision regret in patients with head-and-neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy |
| title_sort | decision regret in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy |
| topic | Radiotherapy Chemotherapy Surgery Head-and-neck cancer Decision regret Psycho-oncology |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405630825000977 |
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