What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study to assess shared decision-making (SDM) and its relation to decision regret in 62 patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
What They Found
Among 62 patients, the mean shared decision-making (SDM) scores were 61.9% (SDM-Q-9) and 72.1% (SDM-K-Q). The mean decision regret score was 13.4% among 54 patients. Lower regret was significantly associated with symptom improvement (B = -16.56, P = 0.036) and experiencing more side effects (B = -6.81, P = 0.014), while males tended to report higher regret.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients considering hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) should engage in thorough shared decision-making discussions with their healthcare providers. Understanding potential benefits like symptom improvement and even common side effects may help manage expectations and reduce post-treatment regret.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada or with Canadian participants.
Study Limitations
The study's relatively small sample size and focus on patients primarily treated for radiation-related injuries may limit the generalizability of its findings.