RESUMO
BACKGROUND: A recent meta-analysis showed that penile cancer (PeC) is associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV) in 50â% of patients in Europe. It is unknown whether urologists are aware of the impact of viral carcinogenesis. METHODS: A (German-language) survey comprising 14 items was created and sent to urologists of 45 clinical centres in Germany (nâ=â34), Austria (nâ=â8), Switzerland (nâ=â2) and Italy/South Tyrol (nâ=â1) once in Q3/2018. According to a predefined quality standard, a total of 557 surveys were eligible for final data analysis (response rate: 85.7â%). Among other questions, urologists were asked to state the frequency of HPV-associated PeC in Europe. 4 potential answers were provided: (A)-"<â25â%", (B)-"25â-â50â%", (C)-">â50â-â75â%", (D)-"level of association unknown". For the final calculation, a tolerance of ±â50â% was considered acceptable, so B and C were deemed correct answers. Based on a bootstrap-adjusted multivariate logistic regression model, criteria independently predicting a correct answer were identified. RESULTS: Categories A-D were selected in 19.2â% (nâ=â107), 48.8â% (nâ=â272), 12.9â% (nâ=â72) and 19â% (nâ=â106), respectively, representing a rate of 61.8â% of urologists (nâ=â344) reaching the endpoint (Bâ+âC). Autonomous performance of chemotherapy for PeC by urologists within the given centre (OR 1.55, p[Bootstrap]â=â0.036) and the centre's number of urological beds (OR 1.02, p[Bootstrap]â=â0.025) were the only parameters showing a significant independent impact on the endpoint. In contrast, the status of a university centre (pâ=â0.143), a leading position of the responding urologist (pâ=â0.375) and the number of PeC patients treated per year and centre (pâ=â0.571) did not significantly predict a correct answer. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate insufficient knowledge on the association of PeC and HPV among German-speaking urologists.
