Quality of life and decision regret in patients with late‐hypothyroidism after radioiodine treatment for Graves' disease
Authors' conclusion
Impairment of quality of life was positively correlated with decision regret in patients with late-hypothyroidism after radioiodine therapy. Patients with insufficient information support before decision-making are more likely to have higher decision regret after treatment. Our findings suggest that health providers should fully communicate with patients and provide information support in multiple dimensions during the shared-decision-making process.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with GD in hypothyroidism for >1 year after radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy; mean age 45.3 years (range 18–78); median time from RAI to survey 4 years (range 1–30)
- Participants
- 254 survey respondents
- Outcome
- Decision regret (Decision Regret Scale, DRS) and disease-specific and generic QoL (ThyPRO-39)
Methodological detailsquestionnaire survey
- Questionnaire survey
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Median Decision Regret Scale (DRS) score
34.4
Mean DRS score
38.8
Absent-to-mild regret (score 0-25)
100
39.4%
Moderate-to-severe regret (score >25)
154
60.6%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
ThyPRO-39 QoL by regret level
- Mean scores significantly higher in absent-to-mild than moderate-to-severe regret on most ThyPRO-39 scales
- Significant positive correlation between DRS score and most ThyPRO-39 scale scores
Factors associated with decision regret
- Higher DRS score significantly positively associated with longer time after RAI, brief duration of hyperthyroidism and significance of long-time outpatient follow-up
- More decision regret negatively associated with iodine-free diet, ineffectiveness of ATD, fear of surgery
Original publication
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →