Do men regret prostate biopsy: Results from the PiCTure study

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Men's Health
• Psychological Impact

Background:

• Prostate biopsy is a common, invasive procedure with potential risks.
• The psychological experience of prostate biopsy, particularly regret, is under-researched.
• Understanding patient regret is crucial for improving the prostate biopsy experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the level of regret experienced by men following a prostate biopsy.
• To identify factors associated with regret after prostate biopsy.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based survey was administered to men undergoing prostate biopsy across multiple clinics in Ireland.
• Regret was measured using a Likert scale assessing agreement with the statement 'It [the biopsy] is something I regret.'
• Data from 335 respondents were analyzed to identify predictors of regret.

Main Results:

• Overall regret following prostate biopsy was low, with only 5.1% of men agreeing or strongly agreeing they regretted the procedure.
• The majority of respondents (70%) were undergoing their first prostate biopsy.
• Higher levels of health anxiety were significantly associated with increased regret (OR = 3.04).

Conclusions:

• The level of regret experienced by men after prostate biopsy is generally low.
• Health anxiety is a significant predictor of regret, highlighting its importance in the patient experience.
• Targeted pre- and post-biopsy counseling for men with high health anxiety may mitigate regret.