Zeng Jie Ye1, Meng Hui Cheng, Xiao Ying Zhang, Ying Tang, Jian Liang, Zhe Sun, Mu Zi Liang, Yuan Liang Yu. 1. Author Affiliations: Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou (Dr Ye and Ms Cheng); The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen (Mrs Zhang); and Institute of Tumor, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou (Dr Tang), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou (Dr J. Liang), and The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Dr Sun); Guangdong Academy of Population Development (Dr M. Z. Liang); and South China University of Technology (Dr Yu), Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The treatment-related decision-making process is a highly emotional time for parents of children with incurable cancer, and they tend to continue the cancer-directed treatment even when they realize that there is no cure for their child. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether parents involved in different treatment decisions regretted their treatment decision after their child's death. METHODS: We collected prospective data from 418 parents of children who died of incurable cancer after receiving cancer care at 1 of 4 hospitals. We assessed parent decisional regret and its association with the type of treatment decision made (non-cancer-directed vs cancer-directed). Propensity score-matched analysis (at a ratio of 1:1) was performed. RESULTS: One hundred forty-eight parents (35.4%) reported heightened regret. Two isonumerical arms with 103 (non-cancer-directed) and 103 (cancer-directed) resulted after propensity score matching. Parents with a cancer-directed treatment decision (relative risk, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-1.90; P = .002) were more likely to report decisional regret compared with those with a non-cancer-directed decision. CONCLUSION: Bereaved parents with a cancer-directed treatment decision are more likely to experience increased regret for their decision than bereaved parents involved in a non-cancer-directed treatment decision. IMPLICATIONS: Shared-decision aids should be prepared for young parents with low education to improve disease-related knowledge, accurate risk perceptions, and options congruent with parents' values.
BACKGROUND: The treatment-related decision-making process is a highly emotional time for parents of children with incurable cancer, and they tend to continue the cancer-directed treatment even when they realize that there is no cure for their child. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether parents involved in different treatment decisions regretted their treatment decision after their child's death. METHODS: We collected prospective data from 418 parents of children who died of incurable cancer after receiving cancer care at 1 of 4 hospitals. We assessed parent decisional regret and its association with the type of treatment decision made (non-cancer-directed vs cancer-directed). Propensity score-matched analysis (at a ratio of 1:1) was performed. RESULTS: One hundred forty-eight parents (35.4%) reported heightened regret. Two isonumerical arms with 103 (non-cancer-directed) and 103 (cancer-directed) resulted after propensity score matching. Parents with a cancer-directed treatment decision (relative risk, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-1.90; P = .002) were more likely to report decisional regret compared with those with a non-cancer-directed decision. CONCLUSION: Bereaved parents with a cancer-directed treatment decision are more likely to experience increased regret for their decision than bereaved parents involved in a non-cancer-directed treatment decision. IMPLICATIONS: Shared-decision aids should be prepared for young parents with low education to improve disease-related knowledge, accurate risk perceptions, and options congruent with parents' values.
Authors: Mu Zi Liang; Ying Tang; M Tish Knobf; Alex Molassiotis; Peng Chen; Guang Yun Hu; Zhe Sun; Yuan Liang Yu; Zeng Jie Ye Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2022-08-06 Impact factor: 4.062