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Patients' pelvic goals change after initial urogynecologic consultation.

Lowenstein L, Kenton K, Pierce K, Fitzgerald MP, Mueller ER, Brubaker L

Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA. llowenstein@lumc.edu

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of initial urogynecologic consultation on the number and type of patient goals. STUDY DESIGN: Charts of women who underwent initial urogynecology consultation were reviewed. Patient goals were collected before and after their consultation. Investigators categorized goals into 6 categories. Category and number of goals were compared before and after their first visit. Predictors of change and clinical associations were assessed. RESULTS: Sixty-three women with a mean age of 53 (range, 18-83) years reported a total number of 313 goals. The number of patients' postconsultation goals was higher than the number of preconsultation goals, (median of 3 +/- 1.2 vs 2 +/- 1.2, respectively; P < .003). Women were less likely to report" symptom" and "information-seeking" goals (P < .002 and P < .03, respectively) but more likely to report treatment goals after consultation (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Urogynecologic consultation affects patients' goals. It is important to reassess goals following initial consultation.

Published 6 December 2007 in Am J Obstet Gynecol, 197(6): 640.e1-3.
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