Patient-related decisional regret: An evolutionary concept analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Health Psychology
• Decision Science

Background:

• Healthcare decision-making is complex, involving varied options, plans, time constraints, and uncertain outcomes.
• This complexity can lead to decisional regret in patients.
• Existing literature shows inconsistent definitions and operationalization of decisional regret.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a conceptual definition of decisional regret.
• To synthesize the current scientific understanding of patients' experiences with decisional regret.

Main Methods:

• A concept analysis using Rodgers' evolutionary method.
• An interdisciplinary literature search from 2003-2023 across five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science).
• Reporting guided by the PRISMA-ScR checklist.

Main Results:

• A conceptual definition of decisional regret was developed from 25 articles.
• Key attributes include its negative cognitive-emotional nature, post-decision experience, and timing (immediate/delayed).
• Antecedents (e.g., psychological status, decision process) and consequences (e.g., quality of life, patient-provider relationship) were identified, forming a conceptual model.

Conclusions:

• Further research is needed, especially on the temporal aspects of regret.
• Identified research, clinical, and policy gaps inform nursing recommendations.
• The study aims to guide the evolution of understanding and managing decisional regret.