Prolapse affects 30-40% of women. Those using a pessary for prolapse usually receive care as an outpatient. This trial determined effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pessary self-management (SM) vs clinic-based care (CBC) in relation to condition-specific quality of life (QoL).
Parallel-group, superiority randomised controlled trial, recruiting from 16 May 2018 to 7 February 2020, with follow-up to 17 September 2021. Women attending pessary clinics, ≥18 years, using a pessary (except Shelf, Gellhorn or Cube), with pessary retained ≥2 weeks were eligible. Limited manual dexterity; cognitive deficit; pregnancy; or requirement for non-English teaching were exclusions. SM group received a 30-min teaching session; information leaflet; 2-week follow-up call; and telephone support. CBC group received usual routine appointments. The primary clinical outcome was pelvic floor-specific QoL (PFIQ-7), and incremental net monetary benefit for cost-effectiveness, 18 months post-randomisation. Group allocation was by remote web-based application, minimised on age, user type (new/existing) and centre. Participants, intervention deliverers, researchers and the statistician were not blinded. The primary analysis was intention-to-treat based. Trial registration: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN62510577.
The requisite 340 women were randomised (169 SM, 171 CBC) across 21 centres. There was not a statistically significant difference between groups in PFIQ-7 at 18 months (mean SM 32.3 vs CBC 32.5, adjusted mean difference SM-CBC -0.03, 95% CI -9.32 to 9.25). SM was less costly than CBC. The incremental net benefit of SM was £564 (SE £581, 95% CI -£576 to £1704). A lower percentage of pessary complications was reported in the SM group (mean SM 16.7% vs CBC 22.0%, adjusted mean difference -3.83%, 95% CI -6.86% to -0.81%). There was no meaningful difference in general self-efficacy. Self-managing women were more confident in self-management activities. There were no reported suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions, and 31 unrelated serious adverse events (17 SM, 14 CBC).
Pessary self-management is cost-effective, does not improve or worsen QoL compared to CBC, and has a lower complication rate.
National Institute for Health and Care Research, Health Technology Assessment Programme (16/82/01).
EClinicalMedicine. 2023 Nov 23*** epublish ***
Suzanne Hagen, Rohna Kearney, Kirsteen Goodman, Catherine Best, Andrew Elders, Lynn Melone, Lucy Dwyer, Melanie Dembinsky, Margaret Graham, Wael Agur, Suzanne Breeman, Jane Culverhouse, Angela Forrest, Mark Forrest, Karen Guerrero, Christine Hemming, Aethele Khunda, Sarkis Manoukian, Helen Mason, Doreen McClurg, John Norrie, Ranee Thakar, Carol Bugge
Nursing, Midwifery & Allied Health Professions Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK., The Warrell Unit, Saint Mary's Hospital, Manchester, UK., Faculty of Health Sciences & Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK., Department of Nursing Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK., Patient and Public Involvement Partner, Dunlop, UK., Department of Gynaecology, University Crosshouse Hospital, UK., Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK., Patient and Public Involvement Partner, Manchester, UK., Patient and Public Involvement Partner, Milton Keynes, UK., Department of Urogynaecology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, UK., Department of Gynaecology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK., Department of Urogynaecology, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK., Yunus Centre for Social Business & Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK., Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, University of Edinburgh, UK., Department of Urogynaecology, Croydon University Hospital, Croydon, UK.