Survey of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients' Preference toward the Distant Management System

PURPOSE: Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is known to be the most common cause of urination disturbance among the men over the age of 50. It is known that the prostate generally increases in size rises along with age. The growing number of the elderly of society requires more consistent care for the chronic diseases like BPH. The recent expansion of telecommunications infrastructure and mobile communications has made it possible for medical services to use mobile communication networks. Hence, we have researched the clinical patients' preference toward the distant management system for BPH patients using mobile communications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research proceeded with a questionnaire conducted by 40 BPH patients over the age of 50, who are undergoing out-patient clinic in the Urology Department at Chungbuk University Hospital and East West Neo Medical Center. The same interviewer gave an explanation to the patients through the questionnaire and the person-to-person talk so that the patients could understand for the personal BPH control program(PBCP). The research on patients' preference toward the PBCP as conducted under a few categories as follows: The contents of the questionnaire according to the patient's educational status: for under middle school graduates, under high school graduates, and for a college graduates. Patients were grouped into high, middle and low according to their financial status. International prostate symptom score(IPSS) were divided into mild, moderate and severe by Barry's classification. Patients' ages were grouped into 50s, 60s, and over 60s. Correlation of each categories was made by Pearson' SPSS version 12.0 and patient's preference toward the PBCP were compared with the variables. RESULTS: The higher the financial, educational status of the patient was, the more positive the reaction of the clinical patient was toward the PBCP(p=0.01, 0.038). However, it was irrelevant to the patient's IPSS and age(p=0.626, 0.087). CONCLUSION: It can be a bit hasty to draw conclusions from the evaluation on the PBCP for patients with a few simple elements, and we still need more comprehensive information. However, once it is successfully practiced, we expect to provide elderly or immobile patients with sufficient medical services in homes, which would offer them a great deal of convenience.

The Distant Management System of BPH Patients using the Tele-communications / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: As our society ages, a disease like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are increasing and needs consequent management. Recently, through the expansion of the communication infrastructure and terminals, a network services can be provided. However, the concern about distant medical management is increasing. We introduce here the Personal BPH Control Program (PBCP) and its application to clinical patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have asked BPH patients to input the variable elements on the digital survey through the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) once a week. We used the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the average flow rate as the variable elements. We have used an algorithm to determine the patients condition. With this, we have developed a program that helps patients to adjust their visits to the hospital. RESULTS: According to the input elements, we have determined that the patients' condition was good (visit the hospital every 3 months) when the IPSS decreased, compared with the baseline and when the average flow rate was up above 2ml/sec. The patients' condition was a warning (visit the hospital every 2 months) when the IPSS was increased to below 3 and the average flow rate was down below +/- 2ml/sec, and the patients' condition was urgent when the IPSS increased to above 4 and the average flow rate was down above 3ml/sec. CONCLUSIONS: We expect that the PBCP has great socioeconomic utility when applying it to patients. A portable personal apparatus for measuring the flow rate is now being developed. When sufficient examples of applying the symptom algorithm have accumulated, we are going to report afterward the prospects of using the PBCP in the future.