[Developing appropriate criteria for benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery using RAND Appropriateness Method [RAM]]

Results of different studies show that a relatively large number of healthcare services offered are inappropriate or unnecessary. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a benign enlargement of the prostate gland. Clinical features of this disease are one of the most common problems encountered by elderly males. The aim of this study was to assess the appropriateness of benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery. In this qualitative study which was conducted in 2008-9, in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, the RAN/UCLA method was used, which was designed in 1980 by the RAND institute and the University of California in Los Angeles. Regarding the stages of our method, scenarios and indications for benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery were chosen from the latest approved scientific resources and subsequently sent to urology specialists, who were chosen as members of the specialized panel. Panel members gave scores ranging from 1 to 9 to each indication and scenario based on scientific resources, clinical experiences and patient's condition in two separate panel sessions. After compilation, the indications were finally grouped as appropriate, equivocal, and inappropriate so that they could be used to determine appropriateness of benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery in hospitals. In this study, the most suitable and most approved clinical guidelines related to benign prostatic hyperplasia, the Guidelines Evaluation and Research Appraisal [AGREE] were used.The selected guidelines were used as scientific resources for choosing the indications of benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery. SPSS version 16 and kappa weighted value were used in analysis process of the study. Out of 282 scenarios grouped as 9 conditions related to benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery, which were extracted from scientific sources, 73 cases [25.9%] were considered as appropriate, 14 cases [5%] as equivocal and 7 cases [2.5%] were considered as inappropriate. Also 22 cases [7.8%] were considered as appropriate indications for drug therapy and none were found to be suitable for waiting and watching. There were 94 scenarios related to surgery that 75 scenarios [80%] were grouped in appropriate and 8 scenarios [8.5%] identified inappropriate. At the present time, due to the lack of scientific evidence for suitable decision-making in providing health services, methods based upon agreement, including the one used in the present study, and the use of treatment standards derived from similar studies, are amongst the most important measures taken to improve the standard of hearth, provide suitable health services, and to reduce unnecessary costs. In addition, RAM appropriateness method could be an ideal method in determining the appropriateness of health care and in reducing the rate of inappropriate services provided. The similarity of results derived from other studies performed by the RAND method in determining the appropriateness of benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment with the current study shows the validity and reliability of this method