Shared care for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a feasibility study

To determine the proportion of patients with symptoms of urinary outflow obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who could be managed in the community after assessment in a shared-care clinic (managed by nursing staff, supervised by a consultant) to which they had direct access.

A total of 127 men were referred to one consultant urologist in a 9-month period for assessment of possible urinary outflow obstruction. All were investigated using urine analysis, serum prostate-specific antigen level, urea and electrolytes, plain abdominal X-ray, renal ultrasonography and urinary flow rate. Additional investigations were undertaken as required. The proportion of men who could have been investigated in a shared-care clinic and then managed in the community was determined.

Of 127 men, 88 (69%) were found to have uncomplicated outflow obstruction secondary to BPH; of these 49 (38%) could have been managed in the community after assessment in the shared-care clinic and a further 27 (21%) could have been managed in the community after additional investigation by a specialist. Twelve men (9%) were found to have uncomplicated outflow obstruction and chose to undergo transurethral resection of the prostate.

Many men with uncomplicated outflow obstruction could be assessed in a shared-care clinic and then managed in the community. A shared-care protocol for the management of these men has now been introduced in this unit.