Unmet expectations in prostate cancer patients and their association with decision regret.

PURPOSE: Information about prostate cancer patients' experiences with their treatment is crucial to optimize shared decision-making. This study examined unmet expectations in prostate cancer patients and their association with decision regret. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational, multi-center study of men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer between 2014 and 2016. Questionnaires were completed at baseline (pre-treatment), and up to 12 months after treatment. Unmet expectations were reported as the proportion of patients who experienced side effects as worse than expected. Linear regression analysis was used to identify factors associated significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with unmet expectations and its association with decision regret. RESULTS: At 1-year follow-up, the majority of the patients (71%, 210/296) reported at least one unmet expectation. The proportion of patients who reported worse than expected erectile problems was 56%, recovery period = 29%, urinary problems = 28%, fatigue = 24%, and bowel problems = 17%. Unmet expectations were comparable between treatment groups, except for fatigue. A passive role in the decision-making process (eta squared (η2) = 0.02) and higher scores on the decisional conflict scale (η2 = 0.02) were associated with more unmet expectations, and unmet expectations were associated with decision regret (η2 = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Unmet expectations are common among men treated for localized prostate cancer. Involving patients in the treatment decision-making process and offering additional counseling to patients who indicate uncertainty about their decision, may help to avoid unmet expectations. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: The current study emphasizes the need for involving prostate cancer patients in the decision-making process in order to mitigate unmet expectations.

Treatment Preferences of Patients With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Before and After Using a Web-based Decision Aid.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate treatment preferences of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) before and after using a web-based decision aid (DA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between July 2016 and January 2017 patients were invited to use a web-based LUTS/BPH DA. Treatment preferences (for lifestyle advices, medication or surgery) before and after DA use and responses on values clarification exercises were extracted from the DA. RESULTS: In total, 126 patients were included in the analysis. Thirty-four percent (43/126) had not received any previous treatment and were eligible for (continuation of) lifestyle advices or to start medication, as initial treatment. The other 66% (83/126) did use medication and were eligible, either for continuing medication or to undergo surgery. Before being exposed to the DA, 67 patients (53%) were undecided and 59 patients (47%) indicated an initial treatment preference. Half of the patients who were initially undecided were able to indicate a preference after DA use (34/67, 51%). Of those with an initial preference, 80% (47/59) confirmed their initial preference after DA use. Five out of 7 values clarification exercises used in the DA were discriminative between final treatment preferences. In 79%, the treatment preferred after DA use matched the received treatment. Overall, healthcare providers were positive about DA feasibility. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a LUTS/BPH DA may help patients to confirm their initial treatment preference and support them in forming a treatment preference if they did not have an initial preference.

Uroflowmetry in healthy women: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Although uroflowmetry is a widely used diagnostic test, reference values of uroflowmetry parameters in women are lacking making it difficult to interpret the test results. AIM: To quantify the range of results in uroflowmetry parameters in healthy women based on a systematic review. METHODS: A search was made in the International Continence Society standardization articles, PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library (from inception to 27 February 2014). Studies on uroflowmetry in healthy women were included. The selected articles were examined using a critical appraisal process based on the QUADAS-2 tool and the Critical Appraisal Skills Program. RESULTS: Mean values of uroflowmetry parameters in healthy women (mean age 37.1 years) were: voided volume (VV) 338 ml (SD 161), maximum flow rate (Qmax) 23.5 ml/s (SD 10), average flow rate (Qave) 13 ml/s (SD 6), postvoid residual (PVR) 15.5 ml (SD 25), voiding time (VT) 29 sec (SD 17), and time to maximum flow rate (time to Qmax) 8 sec (SD 6). Qmax was dependent on VV. There was no clear relationship between Qmax and age, and no correlation between parity and Qmax. A normal shape of the uroflowmetry curve was seen in 70-80% of the flows. CONCLUSION: This systematic review provides an overview of the range of results of uroflowmetry parameters in healthy women. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:953-959, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The quality of 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced photodynamic diagnosis and transurethral resection of bladder tumors: does the urologist play a role?.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) among different urologists. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The selected data consists of 194 patients, 268 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-induced PDD procedures and 934 biopsies. Tumors were resected and biopsies were taken from suspicious areas under guidance of white light endoscopy and 5-ALA-induced fluorescence cystoscopy. The quality of PDD was determined by evaluating the mean number of tumors resected by 5 urologists and, thereafter, assessing the time to recurrence between groups. RESULTS: Urologist 1 took 37% more biopsies (p < 0.001) and diagnosed 42% more tumors (p = 0.005) and 46% more false positives (p < 0.001) from bladders compared to urologists 2, 3, 4 and 5 together. The mean time to bladder cancer recurrence for all recurrences within 0-18 months was 11.0 months for operator 1 and 8.3 months for the other urologists (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The resecting urologist appears to be an important factor for the quality of standard and PDD-assisted TURBT. Learning curve programs may be required with experienced surgeons accompanying those with less experience.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: factors associated with fever after the first postoperative day and systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Fever after the first postoperative day (POD1) after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is most likely caused by an infection that increases hospital stay and healthcare costs. The aim of this study was to find factors associated with fever after POD1 and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety patients underwent 117 PCNLs. Patient characteristics, stone burden, and pre- and postoperative treatments were analyzed for association with fever (temperature >or=38 degrees C) and SIRS using univariate analysis. RESULTS: In 35% of the patients with fever (temperature >or=38 degrees C), fever was present after POD1. Twelve patients developed signs of SIRS (11.2%). In univariate analysis, significant association was observed between fever after POD1 and previous ipsilateral PCNL (p = 0.022, odds ratio OR = 3.1), and between SIRS and paraplegia (p = 0.005, OR = 10.7) and caliceal stones (p = 0.03, OR = 4.8). CONCLUSIONS: Previous ipsilateral PCNL increases the risk of fever after POD1. Paraplegic patients are at risk for developing SIRS after PCNL.