AIMS: (i) To describe and analyse pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms in men referred to a Pelvic Care Centre (PCC).
(ii) To describe the triage process of the same patients based on response to a first-contact interview.
METHODS: Triage started with a telephone interview using previously constructed questions, asking for six types of PF complaints during the preceding 6 months. If present, complaint severity was registered on a 0-10 scale. Next, these first-contact complaints were used to describe patient case mix profiles using cross-tabular analysis. Later on, at first PCC visit, an intake questionnaire regarding specific PF health problem(s) was filled out. This procedure contributed to a firm baseline characterization of the individual patient profile and a clinically valid allocation to structured, predefined assessment and treatment.
RESULTS: From 2005 to 2013 985 first-time patients (mean age 58.2 years (SD 15.3) have been referred to the PCC. Most frequently mentioned complaints: voiding dysfunctions (73.9%), urinary incontinence (29.5%), sexual problems (16.6%), faecal incontinence (13.9%), constipation (9.6%), and prolapse (0.3%). A first appointment to a single specialist was determined in 805 (81.7%) patients, in 137 (13.9%) consultation of >1 specialist. Data analysis revealed higher-order interactions between PF complaints, suggesting patient profile complexity and patient population heterogeneity.
CONCLUSIONS: One out of seven PCC patients showed multifactorial problems, needing >1 specialist. PF complaints either turned out to stand alone or cluster with others, or even to strengthen, weaken, nullify or inverse relationships.
Written by:
Berghmans B, Nieman F, Leue C, Weemhoff M, Breukink S, van Koeveringe G. Are you the author?
Pelvic Care Centre Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Reference: Neurourol Urodyn. 2015 Jan 25. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1002/nau.22733
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25620671