Universal Cystoscopy After Benign Hysterectomy: Examining the Effects of an Institutional Policy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between a universal cystoscopy policy at the time of benign hysterectomy and the detection of urologic injuries. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care academic center where a policy of universal cystoscopy at the time of benign hysterectomy was instituted on October 1, 2008. Benign hysterectomies performed from March 3, 2006, to September 25, 2013, were included and dichotomized into preuniversal and postuniversal cystoscopy groups. Medical records were reviewed for baseline and perioperative characteristics, cystoscopy use, and urologic injuries related to hysterectomy. Urologic injuries were identified by using a search engine and a departmental quality improvement database. RESULTS: Two thousand nine hundred eighteen hysterectomies were identified during the study time period, 96 of which were excluded for indications of abdominopelvic cancers and peripartum indications. Therefore, 973 women were in the preuniversal cystoscopy group and 1,849 were in the postuniversal cystoscopy group. Thirty-six percent (347/973, 95% confidence interval [CI] 32.8-38.8%) and 86.1% (1,592/1,849, 95% CI 84.5-87.7%) of patients underwent cystoscopy prepolicy and postpolicy, respectively. The urologic injury rates were 2.6% (25/973, 95% CI 1.6-3.6%) and 1.8% (34/1,849, 95% CI 1.2-2.5%) in the prepolicy and postpolicy groups, respectively. Delayed urologic injuries decreased significantly (0.7% [7/973], 95% CI 0.3-1.2% compared with 0.1% [2/1,849], 95% CI 0.0-0.3%). Of the nine patients with delayed injuries, four had normal intraoperative cystoscopy findings and five had no cystoscopy performed. CONCLUSION: The practice of universal cystoscopy at the time of hysterectomy for benign indications is associated with decreased delayed postoperative urologic complications.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake After a Tailored, Online Educational Intervention for Female University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Educational interventions may be a strategy to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among female university students, but studies to date have shown mixed results. This study evaluated the effect of MeFirst, an individually tailored, online educational intervention, on HPV vaccine-related knowledge, vaccination intention, and uptake among previously unvaccinated female university students. METHODS: All female students aged 18-26 years who reported being unvaccinated against HPV at a midwestern university were invited via email to enroll. Participants completed an online survey that assessed baseline HPV vaccine-related knowledge, attitudes and vaccination intention. Participants (n = 661) were then randomized to receive either an educational website automatically tailored to their baseline survey responses (MeFirst intervention) or a standard CDC information factsheet on HPV vaccine (control). Vaccine uptake and repeat knowledge and attitude measures were assessed with online surveys 3 months following the intervention and analyzed using logistic regression models. RESULTS: HPV vaccine uptake was similar in both the MeFirst and control groups at 3 months following the intervention (p = 0.98). Three months after the intervention, the proportion of participants with high knowledge regarding HPV vaccination increased from baseline (32% to 50%; p < 0.0001) but the proportion with favorable intention was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: We found that an individually tailored, online educational tool had similar effects as a nontailored factsheet on HPV-related knowledge, intention to HPV undergo vaccination, and HPV vaccine uptake among previously unvaccinated female university students.