Urology HEIRS: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study for Video-Based Research on Physician-Family Communication in Pediatric Urology Visits.

PURPOSE: Patient- and family-centered communication is essential to health care equity. However, less is known about how urologists implement evidence-based communication and dynamics involved in caring for diverse pediatric patients and caregivers. We sought to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability using video-based research to characterize physician-family communication in pediatric urology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assembled a multidisciplinary team to conduct a multiphase learning health systems project to establish the Urology HEIRS (Health Experiences and Interactions in Real-time Studies) corpus for research and interventions. This paper reports the first phase, evaluating feasibility and acceptability based on consent rate, patient diversity, and qualitative identification of verbal and paraverbal features of physician-family communication. We used applied conversation analysis methodology to identify salient practices across 8 pediatric urologists. RESULTS: We recruited 111 families at 2 clinic sites; of these 82 families (N = 85 patients, ages 0-20 years) participated in the study with a consent rate of 73.9%. The racial/ethnic composition of the sample was 45.9% non-Hispanic White, 30.6% any race of Hispanic origin, 16.5% non-Hispanic Black/African American, 4.7% any ethnicity of Asian/Asian American, and 2.3% some other race/ethnicity; 24.7% of families used interpreters. We identified 11 verbal and paraverbal communication practices that impacted physician-family dynamics, including unique challenges with technology-mediated interpreters. CONCLUSIONS: Video-based research is feasible and acceptable with diverse families in pediatric urology settings. The Urology HEIRS corpus will enable future systematic studies of physician-family communication in pediatric urology and provides an empirical basis for specialty-specific training in patient- and family-centered communication.

Prenatal hydrocolpos: imaging findings and differential diagnosis.

Prenatal hydrocolpos is characterized by fluid distension of the vagina. Hydrocolpos can be caused by multiple underlying etiologies and often demonstrates overlapping imaging features compared to other cystic abdominal and pelvic lesions. The purpose of the current pictorial essay is to provide a systematic prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach to differentiating the primary etiologies leading to hydrocolpos. After discussing the fundamental embryological processes involved in vaginal development, the current essay discusses the most common causes of hydrocolpos with their associated prenatal and postnatal imaging features. An approach to distinguishing the more common differential diagnoses is provided. Given the implications of parental counseling and postnatal management, this essay provides an important approach for narrowing differential diagnoses based on prenatal imaging.

Surgical simulation of hypospadias repair - High-fidelity, reproducible and affordable animal tissue model.

INTRODUCTION: Teaching methods in hypospadias repair are still traditional. Available simulators often lack authenticity in terms of haptic feedback and realistic tissue handling. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to develop a high-fidelity, easily reproducible, and affordable animal tissue model for the advanced surgical simulation of hypospadias repair with realistic haptic feedback and tissue handling. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A regular-sized chicken leg and a lamb tenderloin are used to assess the feasibility of simulating hypospadias correction by using the example of a Snodgrass Tubularized Incised Plate-Repair. The model preparation is incorporated into the training process. RESULTS: A detailed description of the high-fidelity model is provided. All steps of a hypospadias repair can be trained while providing realistic anatomy, adequate size, and multilayer tissue properties. Haptic conditions highly resemble human tissue properties. Fine tissue handling corresponds to intraoperative conditions. Limitations to this surgical model apply as in other animal tissue models. CONCLUSION: We developed a high-fidelity, easily reproducible, and affordable hypospadias animal tissue model. Due to the multilayer animal tissue properties, this model provides realistic haptic feedback and thus an inexpensive and reproducible model for hypospadias simulation. External validation is mandatory prior to implementation into urological training.

A multi-site cultural and linguistic adaptation of a hypospadias decision aid for Latinx communities.

INTRODUCTION: Latinx, Spanish-speaking (LSS) patients are more likely to experience decisional conflict and regret about healthcare decisions than non-Hispanic, white, English-speaking patients. OBJECTIVE: To adapt the Hypospadias Hub (Hub), a rigorously developed and tested web-based decision aid (DA), for LSS parents. METHODS: Guided by the Ecological Validity Model (EVM), a heuristic framework was followed to culturally adapt the Hub (see Extended Summary Figure). In stage 1, recommendations were obtained from a focus group with members of the institution's Latinx Community Review Board (Latinx CRB) and semi-structured interviews with pediatricians with Latinx-focused practices. In stage 2, preliminary cultural modifications were made, the Hub was translated into Spanish, and a second focus group with the Latinx CRB was convened to review the revised Hub. In stage 3, semi-structured interviews with LSS parents of healthy boys (i.e., without hypospadias) ≤ 5 years old were conducted to identify any cultural adaptations and/or usability issues regarding the revised Hub. In stage 4, based on parents' feedback, final revisions to the Hub were made. The focus groups and parent interviews were conducted in Spanish; then, the recordings were professionally transcribed in Spanish and translated into English. Interviews with pediatricians were conducted in English; then, the recordings were professionally transcribed. Three coders conducted a qualitative content analysis to identify areas for revision. Changes were applied iteratively. RESULTS: Participants included 3 Latinx CRB members (2 women, 1 did not disclose gender; mean age = 48.3, SD = 21.2), 3 non-Latinx pediatricians (2 women, 1 man; mean age = 49.6, SD = 9.1), and 5 Latinx mothers (mean age = 34.0, SD = 1.26). Participants recommended: 1) featuring video testimonials from Latinx families or including Spanish voice-overs/subtitles; 2) diversifying racial/ethnic/geographic representation and including extended families in photographs/illustrations; 3) adding information about health insurance coverage and circumcision, 4) reassuring parents that the condition is not their fault, 5) considering cultural values (e.g., reliance on expert advice), and 6) clarifying medical terminology. Feedback related to seven EVM dimensions: concepts, content, context, goals, language, metaphors, and methods. DISCUSSION: Participants perceived the Hub to be informative in guiding parents' treatment decisions. Revisions were reasonable and acceptable for a linguistic and cultural adaptation for LSS parents. CONCLUSIONS: We identified and implemented preliminary cultural modifications to the Hub and applied user-centered design methods to test and revise the website. The product is a culturally appropriate DA for LSS parents. Next, English and Spanish-versions of the Hub will be tested in a randomized controlled trial.

The importance of animal specificity in animal experimentation, part I: Anatomy in relation to pediatric urology.

Why and when is animal experimentation relevant? The answer to this question depends on the research question. In this short educational article we aim to raise awareness of the importance of formulating a very specific research question before choosing an animal species. An awareness of anatomical and physiological differences vis-a-vis similarities between species, will increase the potential for obtaining data that is relevant for translation to human conditions.

The importance of animal specificity in animal experimentation, part II: Physiological challenges and opportunities in relation to pediatric urology.

When performing animal experimentation in Pediatric Urology studies, it is important to be aware of physiological differences between species and to understand when relevant disease models are available. Diseased animal models may be more relevant in many cases, rather than performing studies in healthy and normally developed animals. For example, they may be more appropriate for the study of congenital malformations, to investigate the secondary effects of prenatal urinary obstruction, to study the effect of prenatal exposure to endogenous or exogenous factors which may lead to disease, or in testing bioengineered structures. In this short educational article, we aim to describe some disease models that have been used to simulate human pathologies and how, if properly designed, these studies can lead to important new knowledge for human translation. In addition, we also highlight the importance of formulating a research question(s) before deciding on the animal experimental model and species to choose.

Parental decision regret after pediatric urologic surgeries compared to decisions of everyday life.

INTRODUCTION: Parents are at risk of decision regret (DR) for decisions affecting their children. The Decision Regret Scale (DRS) measures medical DR but lacks context outside of healthcare. OBJECTIVE: To compare parental DR 1) between common pediatric urologic surgeries and everyday decisions and 2) with preference to make a different choice. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of randomly selected parents >1year (y) after their children underwent: orchiopexy (males ≤10y), open ureteral reimplant (OUR, females 2-6y), open pyeloplasty (OP, ≤2y), or robotic pyeloplasty (RP, 5-17y) (2017-2021). Higher DRS scores indicate increased DR (none: 0, mild: 1-25, moderate: 30-50, strong: 55-75, very strong: 80-100). Parents completed DRS on four decisions: their child's surgery, most recent/current romantic relationship, most recent leased/purchased car, and most recent purchased meal. Parents reported if they would make the same choice (yes/no). Nonparametric statistics were used. RESULTS: We surveyed 191 parents (orchiopexy n = 52, OUR n = 50, OP n = 51, RP n = 38). The median parent age was 36y (mothers: 86%). Some DR was reported for all decisions, but with significant differences in DR severity. The lowest median DRS score was seen with surgery (orchiopexy 0 [IQR 0-10], OUR 0 [IQR 0-5], OP 0 [IQR 0-0], RP 0 [IQR 0-0]), with no difference between surgery groups (p = 0.78). This was followed by relationship (0, IQR 0-20), car (15, IQR 0-25), and meal (20, IQR 0-30, p < 0.001). Most parents did not report any DR regarding surgery (orchiopexy 69%, OUR 74%, OP 76%, RP 76%, with no difference between surgery groups p = 0.85, Summary Figure). Comparatively, 59% of parents did not have any regret about their relationship, 37% their car, and 28% their meal (p < 0.001). All surgical DR was mild or moderate. No parent (0%) would have chosen differently for their child's surgery versus 4-12% for non-surgical decisions (p < 0.001). Overall, increasing DR corresponded to increasing desire to have made a different choice (DRS≤10: 0%, DRS 45-50: 32%, DRS 55-60: 66%, DRS≥75: 100%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Parental DR varied between urological surgical and non-surgical decisions. It was lowest after surgery. Some regret was reported after every decision, but the subset of parents with regret was smallest after surgical decisions. Positive DRS scores do not necessarily correspond to parents wishing they made a different choice.