Factors Associated With Postoperative Decisional Regret in Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background Surgery is recommended as the first-line treatment option to cure resectable gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. However, patients occasionally feel postoperative regret after surgery. To date, it is not clear which factors are associated with patient regret after GI cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate factors related to postoperative decision regret in patients undergoing surgery for GI cancer. Methods The present prospective study used questionnaires to analyze postoperative decision regret in patients undergoing GI cancer surgery in our institution between February and July 2020. Decision regret that patients felt after surgery was quantitatively measured using the decision regret scale (DRS). Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine factors related to postoperative decision regret. Results Among 70 patients analyzed, the median (interquartile range) DRS score was 10.0 (.0-25.0). Multivariable analysis showed that preoperative Trust in Physician Scale score (partial regression coefficient (B) = −.77; 95% confidence interval (CI) = −1.13 to −.41; P < .001) and postoperative complications (B = 9.17; 95% CI = 2.20 to 16.15; P = .0011) were significantly associated with DRS score. Discussion Preoperative trust in physician and postoperative complications were significantly associated with postoperative decision regret in patients undergoing surgery for GI cancer. Although patients may regret their choice of surgery when postoperative complications occur, trust in their physician may help reduce feelings of regret.