2008 Annual Meeting Abstracts
Patient Perceptions Regarding Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence (PPI) and its Treatment
Kurt A McCammon
Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA
Introduction:
Incontinence rates vary widely in the literature following radical prostatectomy, secondary to differing definitions of incontinence; patient or physician reported rates, and whether subjective or objective measurement tools are used. What are not known are the patients concerns and perceptions of PPI as well as their knowledge of the current treatment options. An online questionnaire was administered to evaluate patients who have undergone a prostatectomy.
Methods:
The survey was conducted in November 2007 in conjunction with Us TOO. Invitations were sent to 10,497 email addresses in the Us TOO Prostate Cancer NEWS You Can Use newsletter. 940 respondents agreed to participate of these 271 had urinary incontinence and continued. No incentive was given to the patients to participate.
Results:
77% of patients were between 56 and 75. 80% of patients had their prostatectomy > 1 year ago. 22% of men did not know SUI was a complication of surgery and 65% still had PPI. 39% of patients state that PPI has a major impact on quality of life, 34% state it affected their relationships and 50% state they would do anything to cure it. 74% of patients have discussed their condition with a MD, 70% of these were urologist but only 29% of the time the physician introduced the conversation. 25% were familiar with the AUS and 19% viewed it favorably.
Conclusions:
PPI continues to be a significant problem for patients, this survey shows that we need to communicate better with our patients about PPI and its treatment.
