The affect of personality traits and decision‐making style on postoperative quality of life and distress in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration

Aim Our aim was to identify whether personality traits and decision‐making styles affect quality of life (QoL) outcomes and levels of psychological distress following pelvic exenteration (PE). Method Patients undergoing PE between 2008 and 2015 were identified from a prospectively maintained database at a single quaternary referral centre. Patients were invited to complete two validated questionnaires, with the Big Five inventory being used to assess personality traits and the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire to determine decision‐making style. Data on QoL outcomes and distress from the prospectively established database were utilized. QoL with respect to both physical and mental health components was measured using Short Form 36 version 2 (SF‐36v2) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Colorectal (FACT‐C). Distress was measured using the Distress Thermometer. Postoperative pain scores were also measured using SF‐36v2. Results Of the 93 patients eligible for participation, 42 returned the study questionnaire. On multivariate analysis, neuroticism was the most significant predictor of poorer QoL and increased levels of distress, consistent across all of the measures utilized and at the different time points used. Other personality traits showed an isolated statistically significant impact upon QoL. There were no significant findings with respect to decision‐making style. Apart from neuroticism, the most significant predictor of QoL was the number of major complications for the patient. Conclusion Patients demonstrating neurotic personality traits show poorer QoL outcomes and higher levels of distress following PE. Identification of these patients would allow targeted pre‐ and postoperative intervention to improve outcomes following PE.