Effect of a New Risk Calculator on Patient Satisfaction With the Decision for Concomitant Midurethral Sling During...

Area of Science:

• Urogynecology
• Pelvic Floor Disorders
• Surgical Decision-Making

Background:

• Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery often involves decisions about prophylactic midurethral sling (MUS) placement to prevent stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
• Patient satisfaction with these surgical decisions is crucial for optimal outcomes.
• Personalized risk calculators aim to enhance informed decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if a personalized risk calculator for de novo SUI increases patient satisfaction with the decision to undergo prophylactic MUS placement during POP surgery.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with women undergoing POP surgery.
• Participants were randomized to standard preoperative counseling or counseling using an online risk calculator for de novo SUI.
• Patient satisfaction with the MUS decision was assessed at 3 months postoperatively using the Satisfaction with Decision Scale for Pelvic Floor Disorders.

Main Results:

• 33 women completed the study, with 17 in the risk calculator group and 16 in the standard counseling group.
• No significant difference in patient satisfaction scores was observed between the risk calculator group (4.67 ± 0.46) and the standard counseling group (4.78 ± 0.34) at 3 months postoperative (P = 0.61).

Conclusions:

• The use of a de novo SUI risk calculator did not enhance patient satisfaction with the decision regarding prophylactic MUS placement during POP surgery.
• Further research may be needed to identify effective tools for improving patient satisfaction in this surgical context.