Decision regret related to urinary diversion choices after cystectomy among Chinese bladder cancer patients

AIM: To explore factors associated with decision regret after cystectomy among Chinese bladder cancer patients. METHODS: This cross‐sectional study involved 112 patients, who had received radical bladder cancer resection. Participants were recruited from August 2021 until January 2022. The decision regret scale (DRS), decision conflict scale (DCS), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Bladder cancer (FACT‐BL) form were used to measure decision regret, decision conflict, and quality of life. Investigator‐designed items further explored perceptions involved in decision‐making participation and outcomes. RESULTS: The average score for decision regret was 26.21 (SD 15.886), while decision conflict was 20.27 (SD 13.375) and quality of life was 94.74 (SD 20.873). 57.1% of our participants had a little knowledge about the quality of life of patients who chose an alternate urinary diversion method; however, only 13.4% reported having a clear understanding. In addition, 8.9%, 26.8%, and 36.6% thought that quality of life related to alternate decisions was poor, average, or good, respectively. Multiple regression analysis suggested that decision regret is associated with decision conflict, quality of life, and the perceptions that others (who took alternate urinary diversion decisions) had a better quality of life. CONCLUSION: Decision regret is common among Chinese bladder cancer patients, after cystectomy. The prevalence of regret appears to be much higher in Chinese bladder cancer patients compared to similar studies from other regions. Decisions in mainland China are often made by the treating physician or by family members which may cause more profound regret. However, education and economic status are positively related to higher levels of regret which creates questions around knowing, participation, and expectations, which must be explored.