Gap analysis between trainees' subjective competencies and the competencies expected by instructors in urology: A need assessment survey in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: According to the rapid progress in surgical techniques, a growing number of procedures should be learned during postgraduate training periods. This study aimed to clarify the current situation regarding urological surgical training and identify the perception gap between trainees' competency and the competency expected by instructors in Japan. METHODS: Regarding the 40 urological surgical procedures selected via the Delphi method, we collected data on previous caseloads, current subjective autonomy, and confidence for future skill acquisition from trainees (<15 post-graduate years [PGY]), and the competencies when trainees became attending doctors expected by instructors (>15 PGY), according to a 5-point Likert scale. In total, 174 urologists in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: The response rate was 96% (165/174). In a large proportion of the procedures, caseloads grew with accumulation of years of clinical practice. However, trainees had limited caseloads of robotic and reconstructive surgeries even after 15 PGY. Trainees showed low subjective competencies at present and low confidence for future skill acquisition in several procedures, such as open cystectomy, ureteroureterostomy, and ureterocystostomy, while instructors expected trainees to be able to perform these procedures independently when they became attending doctors. CONCLUSION: Trainees showed low subjective competencies and low confidence for future skill acquisition in several open and reconstructive procedures, while instructors considered that these procedures should be independently performable by attending doctors. We believe that knowledge of these perception gaps is helpful to develop a practical training program.

Vasectomy Reversal Online Marketing Practices: What Are We Putting Out There?

OBJECTIVE: To determine characteristics of providers marketing vasectomy reversal (VR) online, degree of information available online, the ease with which patients can compare providers, and the differences in VR practice patterns between academic and private practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified VR practices operating within the top 50 most populous metropolitan areas in the US. Practice websites were reviewed to obtain information such as provider educational background, level of magnification, ability to perform vasoepididymostomy, surgical volume, and cost. Based on information available, providers were assigned a novel REVERSAL score created by the authors. Descriptive statistics were used to compare results. RESULTS: Of the 107 providers identified (29 academic, 78 private), the majority were male urologists with a Doctor of Medicine degree. Academic providers were more likely to have fellowship training than private practice providers, 96.6 vs 43.6%, respectively (P = 0.00001). Compared to non-urologists, urologists were less likely to purchase online ads or disclose cost. Non-urologists charged significantly less than urologists, $3,584 ± 1,554 and $6,591 ± 1,518, respectively (P = 0.00001). Only one provider provided complete information as defined by REVERSAL score of 12, with the majority (61.7%) of providers achieving score ≤6. CONCLUSION: There is significant lack of transparency in publicly available information from VR practices. Practices should implement measures to improve dissemination of information to the public, so that patients can more easily compare providers and make informed decisions regarding VR.

Cross-continental comparison of safety and protection measures amongst urologists during COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the well-being of urologists worldwide during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and whether they have adequate personal protective equipment knowledge and supplies appropriate to their clinical setting. METHODS: Urologists worldwide completed a Société Internationale d'Urologie online survey from 16 April 2020 until 1 May 2020. Analysis was carried out to evaluate their knowledge about protecting themselves and others in the workplace, including their confidence in their ability to remain safe at work, and any regional differences. RESULTS: There were 3488 respondents from 109 countries. Urologists who stated they were moderately comfortable that their work environment offers good protection against coronavirus disease 2019 showed a total mean satisfaction level of 5.99 (on a "0 = not at all" to "10 = very" scale). A large majority (86.33%) were confident about protecting themselves from coronavirus disease 2019 at work. However, only about one-third reported their institution provided the required personal protective equipment (35.78%), and nearly half indicated their hospital has or had limited personal protective equipment availability (48.08%). Worldwide, a large majority of respondents answered affirmatively for testing the healthcare team (83.09%). Approximately half of the respondents (52.85%) across all regions indicated that all surgical team members face an equal risk of contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (52.85%). Nearly one-third of respondents reported that they had experienced social avoidance (28.97%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that urologists lack up-to-date knowledge of preferred protocols for personal protective equipment selection and use, social distancing, and coronavirus disease 2019 testing. These data can provide insights into functional domains from which other specialties could also benefit.

National opioid prescription patterns and patient usage after routine vasectomy.

Routine prescription of opioids after outpatient surgery is common. The main objective of this study was to determine urologist opioid prescribing patterns and patients' pain control medication regimens (opioid and anti-inflammatory) after vasectomy. We designed an anonymous seven-question electronic survey of urologists to assess vasectomy practice and post-vasectomy opioid prescriptions using the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile database. We then performed a retrospective internal telephone survey of men who had undergone vasectomy by a single surgeon (MKS). This telephone survey queried men about opioid prescription filling, opioid use and ibuprofen use. We received 136 (4.5%) electronic survey responses. 51.5% of urologists routinely prescribed opioids for post-vasectomy analgesia, despite 50.4% having 'no idea' how many patients actually used these. On internal telephone survey, 52.6% of patients who used opioids reported using ibuprofen as their primary pain medication, versus 92.6% of patients who did not use opioids (p = .004). Ibuprofen use was associated with using fewer opioid tablets (p = .003). Using ≥1 opioid tab was associated with increased odds of not using ibuprofen as the primary pain medication (OR 11.2, 95% CI 2.39-83.0, p = .005). In conclusion, integration of practice guidelines may help standardise and minimise potentially unnecessary post-vasectomy opioid prescriptions.

Financial Conflicts of Interest Among Authors of Urology Clinical Practice Guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have highlighted the presence of disclosed and undisclosed financial conflicts of interest among authors of clinical practice guidelines. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine to what extent urology guideline authors receive and report industry payments in accordance with the Physician Payment Sunshine Act. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We selected the 13 urology guidelines that were published by the American Urological Association (AUA) after disclosure was mandated by the Physician Payment Sunshine Act. Payments received by guideline authors were searched independently by two investigators using the Open Payments database. OUTCOME MEASURES AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Our primary outcome measure was the number of authors receiving payments from industry, stratified by amount thresholds. Our secondary outcome measure was the number of authors with accurate conflict of interest disclosure statements. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: We identified a total of 54 author disclosures. Thirty-two authors (59.3%) received at least one payment from industry. Twenty (37.0%) received >$10 000 and six (11.1%) received >$50 000. Median total payments were $578 (interquartile range $0-19 228). Twenty (37.0%) disclosure statements were inaccurate. Via Dollars for Docs, we identified $74 195.13 paid for drugs and devices directly related to guideline recommendations. We were limited in our ability to determine when authors began working on guideline panels, as this information was not provided, and by the lack of specificity in Dollars for Docs. CONCLUSIONS: Many of the AUA guideline authors received payments from industry, some in excess of $50 000. A significant portion of disclosure statements were inaccurate, indicating a need for more stringent enforcement of the AUA disclosure policy. PATIENT SUMMARY: Pharmaceutical company payments to doctors have been shown to influence how doctors treat patients. If these doctors are charged with making clinical recommendations to other doctors, in the form of clinical practice guidelines, the issue of industry payments becomes more severe. We found that many urologists on guideline panels receive money from industry and that a significant portion did not disclose all payments received.

Adherence to the European Association of Urology Guidelines: A National Survey among Italian Urologists.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to explore adherence to the European Urological Association (EAU) Guidelines (GLs) grade A recommendation among Italian urologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 13-item multiple-choice questionnaire covering oncological and non-oncological urological diseases was e-mailed to all Italian Urologist Society (Società Italiana di Urologia or SIU) members. We asked members to provide an explanation for their answer choice where needed. The quantitative data were tested using the Pearson's chi-square test. For all statistical comparisons, significance was considered as p < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 2011 invited SIU members, 210 (10.4%) completed the survey. The sample was composed of 22 (10.5%) Academic Urologists (AcUs), 110 (52.4%) Attending Urologists (AtUs), 32 (15.2%) Private Practice Urologists (PPUs), and 41 (19.5%) Residents in Urology (RUs). The mean adherence to the EAU Oncologic GLs ranged from 54.5 to 97.1%, while the adherence to the non-oncologic GLs ranged from 45 to 87.6%. We found that adherence differed across the working categories assessed. CONCLUSION: Our survey showed that professional role, updates, and local facilities seem to be the drivers that influence the non-adherence to the GLs. Urologists who work in university hospital would be more inclined to adopt the GLs compared to those who practice in non-academic centers.

Scientific Skill Assessment of Basic Surgical Dissection and Overall Laparoscopic Performance.

To improve surgical education, objective and scientific skill assessments are required. There are two types of skill evaluations: assessments of basic surgical skills and assessments of overall surgical performance. To establish a reliable assessment method for surgical dissection, we measured the force applied on the tip of a surgical instrument during dissection of the renal vessels of pigs. The experiments revealed that, during surgical dissection, expert laparoscopic surgeons applied vertical force at the beginning of the stroke and then horizontal force, with minimum vertical force, at the end of the stroke. As an assessment of overall surgical performance, the Endoscopic Surgical Qualification system was developed and has been used for 12 years in Japan. More than 3700 surgeons, including urologists, were determined to have appropriate laparoscopic surgical skills after assessments of unedited videos by referees.