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Currently, surveillance guidelines following surgical resection of clinically localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are clear within the first 5 yr; however, these lack the same degree of objectivity following this cutoff. We sought to investigate the long-term risk of recurrence in surgically treated RCC in order to determine the utility of long-term surveillance. A post hoc analysis of patients within the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group—American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG-ACRIN) E2805 trial cohort was performed. The 36-mo cumulative incidence of recurrence was assessed at set intervals following surgery, in order to dynamically assess recurrence through the use of a conditional survival model. Of the 1943 patients included in the original cohort, 730 developed recurrence. The 36-mo cumulative incidences of recurrence were found to be 31%, 26%, 19%, 16%, 19%, and 20% for patients at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 mo from surgery, respectively. At 0 mo from surgery, age, pathological T3/4 stage (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.56), pathological N1/2 stage (HR = 2.38), and Fuhrman grades 3 and 4 (HR = 1.36 and HR = 2.41, respectively) were independent predictors of recurrence; however, this was not seen at 60 mo following surgery. These findings support that surveillance imaging should be performed beyond 5 yr following surgical resection of intermediate- to high-risk RCC. Patient summary : Follow-up for surgically resected localized renal cell carcinoma should be performed beyond 5 yr, for the rates of recurrence remain significant beyond this 5 yr endpoint.

Studies have noted contrasting findings with regard to the contemporary incidence of metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) in the USA, especially in light of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in recent years. We used data from the 18 population- based tumor registries of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) 2004-2013 database to study trends in the incidence of metastatic PCa among men stratified by age and race. Joinpoint regression analyses were performed to identify time points associated with any statistically significant change in incidence. Overall, there was a significant increase in incidence between 2009 and 2013 (annual percentage change [APC] 3.10%; p

Objective To describe and evaluate a risk-stratified triage pathway for inpatient urology consultations during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. This pathway seeks to outline a urology patient care strategy that reduces the transmission risk to both healthcare providers and patients, reduces the healthcare burden, and maintains appropriate patient care. Materials and Methods Consultations to the urology service during a 3-week period (March 16 to April 2, 2020) were triaged and managed via one of 3 pathways: Standard, Telemedicine, or High-Risk. Standard consults were in-person consults with non COVID-19 patients, High-Risk consults were in-person consults with COVID-19 positive/suspected patients, and Telemedicine consults were telephonic consults for low-acuity urologic issues in either group of patients. Patient demographics, consultation parameters and consultation outcomes were compared to consultations from the month of March 2019. Categorical variables were compared using Chi-square test and continuous variables using Mann-Whitney U test. A P value Results Between March 16 and April 2, 2020, 53 inpatient consultations were performed. By following our triage pathway, a total of 19/53 consultations (35.8%) were performed via Telemedicine with no in-person exposure, 10/53 consultations (18.9%) were High-Risk, in which we strictly controlled the urology team member in-person contact, and the remainder, 24/53 consultations (45.2%), were performed as Standard in-person encounters. COVID-19 associated consultations represented 18/53 (34.0%) of all consultations during this period, and of these, 8/18 (44.4%) were managed successfully via Telemedicine alone. No team member developed COVID-19 infection. Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, most urology consultations can be managed in a patient and physician safety-conscious manner, by implementing a novel triage pathway.

Using institutional data, we have previously developed an algorithm to identify the optimal candidates for adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) among men with pN1 prostate cancer (PCa) at radical prostatectomy (RP). This study aimed to test the external validity of our previous findings using a nationwide database while focusing on overall mortality as an endpoint. To this end, we identified 5498 pN1 PCa patients who were treated with RP, pelvic lymph node dissection, and androgen deprivation therapy with or without aRT, within the National Cancer Database, between 2004 and 2015. Patients were divided into five groups based on our previously published algorithm. Similar to our previous report, multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that only two of these groups benefit from aRT: (1) those with one to two positive nodes, pathological Gleason score 7-10, and pT3b/4 disease or positive surgical margins (hazard ratio [HR]=0.75); and (2) those with three to four positive nodes, regardless of local tumor characteristics (HR=0.57, both p=0.01). In the remaining patients (25% of the cohort), aRT had no significant survival benefit. Results were confirmed on sensitivity analyses using 1:1 propensity score-matched cohorts, excluding men who died within 3 yr of surgery and using cut-off of 6 mo post-surgery to identify receipt of aRT. Our findings corroborate the validity of our previously published criteria and highlight the importance of patient selection in pN1 PCa patients who are considered for aRT.

A recent study reported an overall survival benefit for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (mUCB) managed with high-intensity local treatment (LT) of the primary tumor (chemotherapy plus radical cystectomy and/or radiation therapy ≥50Gy). Given the non-negligible morbidity of these procedures, adequate patient selection is crucial. Our objective was to identify patients who might benefit the most from high-intensity LT. Data for 3044 patients with mUCB at diagnosis were extracted from the National Cancer Data Base 2004-2013, and patients were categorized on the basis of treatment: high-intensity LT versus conservative LT (chemotherapy plus transurethral resection of bladder tumor and/or radiation therapy50Gy). Multivariate Cox regression analysis predicted baseline 2-yr overall mortality (OM) risk among patients who received conservative LT. We then assessed the interaction between predicted OM risk and LT type. Compared to conservative LT, high-intensity LT yielded a higher observed OM-free survival rate among all patients with pure mUCB, irrespective of their predicted OM risk (nonsignificant interaction, p=0.7). These findings underline the need for further retrospective and prospective evaluation. PATIENT SUMMARY: Among patients with metastatic histologically pure urothelial carcinoma of the bladder, we found an overall survival benefit of high-intensity local treatment directed at the primary tumor, regardless of predicted baseline 2-yr overall mortality risk.

Contemporary treatment trends for prostate cancer show increased rates of active surveillance. However, nationwide applicability of these reports is limited. Additionally, the effect of Commission on Cancer facility type on prostate cancer treatment patterns is unknown.We used the National Cancer Data Base to identify men diagnosed with prostate cancer, between 2004 and 2013. Our cohort was stratified on the basis of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network prostate cancer risk classes. Cochran-Armitage tests were used to evaluate temporal trends. Random effects hierarchical logit models were used to assess treatment variation at Commission on Cancer facility and institution level.In 825,707 men, utilization of radiation therapy declined and utilization of radical prostatectomy increased for all prostate cancer risk groups between 2004 and 2013 (P .0001). Observation for low-risk prostate cancer increased from 16.3% in 2004 to 2005 to 32.0% in 2012 to 2013 (P .0001). Significant treatment variation was observed on the basis of Commission on Cancer facility type. Across all risk groups, the lowest rates of radical prostatectomy and highest rates of external beam radiation therapy were observed in community cancer programs. The highest rates of observation for low-risk disease were observed in academic centers. Treatment variation according to institution ranged from 14% (95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.15) for androgen deprivation therapy up to 59% (95% confidence interval, 0.45-0.73) for cryotherapy.The increased utilization of observation in low-risk prostate cancer is an encouraging finding, which appears to be mainly derived by a decrease in radiotherapy utilization in this risk group. Regardless of tumor characteristics, significant variations in treatment modality exist among different facility types and institutions.

To compare local/metastatic disease progression and overall mortality rates in men with node-negative prostate cancer at radical prostatectomy (RP) that experience biochemical recurrence vs. persistence postoperatively and undergo salvage radiation therapy (sRT).Data on 760 men who participated in the RTOG 9601 trial were extracted using the NCTN data archive platform. Patients were stratified into biochemical recurrence (nadir-PSA ≤0.4 ng/ml) or persistence (nadir-PSA0.4 ng/ml) groups, based on the cut-off reported in the original trial. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) methodology was utilized to minimize the baseline differences among groups. Competing-risk and Kaplan-Meier analyses estimated the impact of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) persistence vs. recurrence on local and metastatic disease progression and overall-mortality in the IPTW-adjusted model; a 2-sided P0.05 was considered significant.All patients received sRT, and about 50% of the patients in either group received concomitant antiandrogen therapy (P = 0.951). The median follow-up was 12 years. After IPTW, the 2 groups were well-matched with standardized mean differences ∼10%. In the IPTW-adjusted cohort, the 10-year local and metastatic disease occurrence rates were 3.2% vs. 1.4% (Gray's P = 0.0001) and 28.6% vs. 10.1% (Gray's P0.0001) in patients with persistent vs. recurrent PSA, respectively. Similarly, the 10-year overall-mortality rates were 24.9% vs. 11.9% (Log-rank P = 0.029), respectively.Patients with biochemical persistence after RP are approximately 2.5 times more likely to experience local/metastatic failure and death, compared to patients with biochemical recurrence after RP, despite equivalent sRT with/without antiandrogen therapy use. These data may facilitate patient counseling and shared treatment selection.

Background: To evaluate the potential impact of lead-time bias on the reported beneficial role of early salvage radiotherapy (sRT), defined as delivering radiation at a relatively low pre-sRT prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value, in treating prostate cancer patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: All available demographic, tumor-specific, and overall survival data from 760 men who participated in the RTOG 9601 trial were extracted using the Project Data Sphere platform. Patients were stratified based on pre-sRT PSA ( 1.5-4.0 ng/mL [n=118]) as reported in the original trial. Cox regression analysis assessed the impact of pre-sRT PSA on overall mortality, after controlling for covariates. To ascertain the role of lead-time bias, survival time zero was set to the time of (1) initiation of sRT, and (2) RP. Findings: There were no statistically significant differences amongst men within the three groups, except for a greater proportions of African-American patients and men with post-RP PSA nadirs ≥0.5 ng/mL within the higher pre-sRT PSA groups. For men with pre-sRT PSA 1.5-4 ng/mL, estimated 15-year overall mortality was 39%, 45%, and 50%, respectively (p=0.005) when calculated from time since sRT, and 23%, 29%, and 36% respectively (p=0.08) when assessed from time since RP. On multivariable regression analyses, pre-sRT PSA >1.5-4.0 ng/mL was significantly associated with overall mortality only when measured from time of initiation of sRT (HR 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-2.28; p=0.008), but not from time since RP (HR 1.24, 95% CI 0.87-1.76; p=0.2). Interpretation: Our findings suggest that the putative survival benefit with early sRT instituted at lower PSA thresholds is mitigated when measured from time since surgery, highlighting the role of lead-time bias. These findings need further validation given their significant clinical implications. Funding Statement: There was no funding for this study. The corresponding author had full access to all data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication. Declaration of Interests: Firas Abdollah is a consultant for GenomeDx Biosciences. Ethics Approval Statement: An institutional review board waiver was obtained before the study was conducted, in accordance with institutional regulation when dealing with de-identified previously collected data.

Objective A major role in the establishment of computer-assisted robotic surgery (CARS) can be traced to the work of Mani Menon at Vattikuti Urology Institute (VUI), and of many surgeons of Asian origin. The success of robotic surgery in urology has spurred its acceptance in other surgical disciplines, improving patient comfort and disease outcomes and helping the industrial growth. The present paper gives an overview of the progress and development of robotic surgery, especially in the field of Urology; and to underscore some of the seminal work done by the VUI and Asian surgeons in the development of robotic surgery in urology in the US and around the world. Methods PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases were searched for publications from 2000 through June 2014, using algorithms based on keywords “robotic surgery”, ”prostate”, “kidney”, “adrenal”, “bladder”, “reconstruction”, and “kidney transplant”. Inclusion criteria used were published full articles, book chapters, clinical trials, prospective and retrospective series, and systematic reviews/meta-analyses written in English language. Studies from Asian institutions or with the first/senior author of Asian origin were included for discussion, and focused on techniques of robotic surgery, relevant patient outcomes and associated demographic trends. Results A total of 58 articles selected for final review highlight the important strides made by robots in urology, from robotic radical prostatectomy in 2000 to robotic kidney transplant in 2014. In the hands of an experienced robotic surgeon, it has been demonstrated to improve functional patient outcomes and minimize perioperative complications compared to open surgery, especially in urologic oncology and reconstructive urology. With increasing surgeon proficiency, the benefits of robotic surgery were consistently seen across different surgical disciplines, patient populations, and strata. Conclusion The addition of robot to the surgical armamentarium has allowed better patient care and improved disease outcomes. VUI and surgeons of Asian origin have played a pioneering role in dissemination of computer-assisted surgery.

Objectives To describe our experience and illustrate the surgical procedure of synchronous bilateral testicular rerouting in high inguinal undescended testes (HIUT) by extending the use of "modified Prentiss maneuver" in bilateral situation, to establish this as a procedure of choice in bilateral HIUT and secondly to demonstrate the length gained by maneuver itself. Methods Between January 2011 and December 2012 ten boys (8months–6years) with diagnosis of bilateral HIUT were included in the study. Bilateral orchidopexy was done by "modified Prentiss maneuver" under general anesthesia. Postoperatively all patients were evaluated at 3months ,6months and 1year by physical examinations and ultrasound. Results It was possible to reroute the testes underneath inferior epigastric artery (IEA) without its mobilization and thus locate testicular pedicle through a fascial hole above pubic tubercle, well medial to IEA. The average gain in scrotal positioning was 16mm (10–22mm).No retractions, atrophy of testis, clinical weakness of anterior abdominal wall or inguinal herniation was noted in any patient up to one year follow up. Conclusions Testicular re-routing by "modified Prentiss maneuver" is a simple, feasible, safe and efficient method for bilateral orchidopexy in bilateral HIUT. Preserving the inferior epigastric artery bilaterally has physiologic advantages.

5035Background: Using institutional data, we have previously identified sub-groups of patients with pN1 prostate cancer, who can benefit from aRT plus adjuvant hormonal therapy (aHT) after RP. Our ...

Black men are more prone to harbor prostate cancer. They are more likely to succumb to this tumor than their White counterparts and may benefit from early detection and treatment. In this study, we assess the nationwide and regional disparity in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer between Black men and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs).A total of 247,079 (weighted 55,185,102) men, aged 40 to 99 years, who responded to the 2012 and 2014 behavioral risk factor surveillance system surveys were used for our analysis. End points consisted of self-reported PSA screening and self-reported nonrecommended PSA screening within 12 months of the interview. The latter was defined as screening in men with10-year life expectancy. Available sociodemographic variables were used to predict these end points. The independent predictors from multivariate models were used to calculate the adjusted prevalence of PSA screening and nonrecommended PSA screening on a nationwide and regional level. These numbers were calculated for Blacks and NHWs separately and were compared between the 2 groups.Prevalence of PSA screening was 30.7% in NHWs vs. 28.1% in Blacks (P0.001). On a region-based analysis, New England, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, East North Central, East South Central, West South Central, and Mountain showed a significantly higher rate of PSA screening in NHWs as compared to Blacks (all P0.001). Middle Atlantic had a significantly higher prevalence of nonrecommended screening in NHWs as compared to Blacks, whereas South Atlantic, West South Central, and Pacific had a significantly higher prevalence of nonrecommended screening in Blacks as compared to NHWs (all P0.001). Overall, 43 states performed screening more frequently to NHWs, whereas only 8 states performed it more frequently to Black men. The nonrecommended screening was performed more frequently to NHWs in 19 states, whereas 24 states performed it more frequently to Black men.Our study demonstrates that on a regional-level (and state-level), there are significant racial differences in overall and nonrecommended PSA screening across the United States. Further research is necessary to identify the reasons for the differences and help overcoming it.

It remains largely unknown if there are racial disparities in outcomes of prostate cancer (PCa) for Asian American and Pacific Islanders (PIs) (AAPIs). We examined differences in diagnosis, management, and survival of AAPI ethnic groups, relative to their non-Hispanic White (NHW) counterparts.Patients (n = 891,100) with PCa diagnosed between 1988 and 2010 within the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database were extracted and stratified by ethnic group: Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Korean, Vietnamese, Asian Indian/Pakistani, PI, and Other Asian. The effect of ethnic group on stage at presentation, rates of definitive treatment, and PCa-specific mortality was assessed. The severity at diagnosis was defined as: localized (TxN0M0), regional (TxN1M0), or metastatic (TxNxM1).Relative to NHWs, Asian Indian/Pakistani, Filipino, Hawaiian, and PI men had significantly worse outcomes. Filipino (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.27-1.51), Hawaiian, (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.41-2.04), Asian Indian/Pakistani (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.15-1.64), and PI men (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.46-2.49) were more likely to present with metastatic PCa (P0.001). In patients with localized PCa, Filipino men were less likely to receive definitive treatment (OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84-0.97; P = 0.005). Most AAPI groups had lower rates of PCa death except for Hawaiian (hazard ratio = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.30-1.77; P0.0001) and PI men (hazard ratio = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.12-1.82; P0.0001).Compared with NHWs, AAPI groups were more likely to present with advanced PCa but had better cancer-specific survival. Conversely, Hawaiian and PI men were at greater risk for PCa-specific mortality. Given the different cancer profiles, our results show that there is a need for disaggregation of AAPI data.

ESBL in 2.2%. 15% of patients who were not swabbed received i.v antibiotics. 6/808 (0.7%) screened patients developed sepsis, as opposed to 4/124 (3.2%) in patients not screened (p1⁄40.03 Fischer’s exact test). Allowing for all costs incurred by screening, including intravenous antibiotics, screening for FRE saved $10/patient biopsied. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for fluoroquinolone resistant E. coli prior to TRUS guided prostate biopsy with subsequent targeted antibiotics is a cost effective strategy to significantly reduce the risk of post biopsy sepsis.

Introduction and objective The importance of pelvic lymphadenectomy (LND) for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes at the time of radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer is well documented. Although some debate remains on the optimal number of lymph nodes removed, 10 nodes has been proposed as constituting an adequate LND. We used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to examine predictors and temporal trends in the receipt of an adequate LND at the time of RC for bladder cancer. Material and methods Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we extracted data on all patients with nonmetastatic bladder cancer receiving RC in the years 1988 to 2010. First, we assess the proportion of individuals undergoing RC who received an adequate LND (≥10 nodes removed) over time. Second, we calculate odds ratios (ORs) of receiving an adequate LND using logistic regression modeling to compare study periods. Covariates included sex, race, age, region, tumor stage, urban vs. rural location, and insurance status. Results Among the 5,696 individuals receiving RC during the years 1988 to 2010, 2,576 (45.2%) received an adequate LND. Over the study period, the proportion of individuals receiving an adequate LND increased from 26.4% to 61.3%. The odds of receiving an adequate LND increased over the study period; a patient undergoing RC in 2008 to 2010 was over 4-fold more likely to receive an adequate LND relative to a patient treated in 1988 to 1991 (OR = 4.63, 95% CI: 3.32–6.45). In addition to time of surgery, tumor stage had a positive association with receipt of adequate LND (OR = 1.49 for stage IV [T4 N1 or N0] vs. stage I [T1 or Tis], 95% CI: 1.22–1.82). Age, sex, marital status, and race were not significant predictors of adequate LND. Conclusion Adequacy of pelvic LND remains an important measure of surgical quality in bladder cancer. Our data show that over the years 1988 to 2010, the likelihood of receiving an adequate LND has increased substantially; however, a substantial minority of patients still does not receive LND. Further study into factors leading to adequate LND is needed to increase the use of this important technique.

To investigate the impact of smoking on perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing one of the 16 major cardiovascular, orthopedic, or oncologic surgical procedures.We relied on the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2005 to 2011). Procedure-specific multivariable logistic regression models assessed the association between smoking status (non, former, or current smokers) and risk of 30-day morbidity and mortality.Overall, 141,802 patients were identified. A total of 12.5%, 14.6%, and 14.9% of non, former, and current smokers, respectively, experienced at least one complication (P.001). In multivariable models, current smokers had higher odds of overall, pulmonary, wound, and septic/shock complications following most cardiovascular and oncologic surgeries compared with nonsmokers. The odds of experiencing such adverse outcomes were significantly lower in former smokers compared with current smokers, but still higher compared with nonsmokers.The effect of smoking on perioperative outcomes is procedure dependent. Current and, even though mitigated, former smoking negatively influence outcomes following cardiovascular or oncologic procedures. Patients undergoing major procedures should be encouraged to discontinue tobacco smoking to achieve optimal procedural outcomes.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Wound dehiscence is major complication following radical cystectomy. It is a significant cause of readmission, reopearation and potentially delays lifesaving adjuvant therapies. We sought to investigate the incidence and predictors of wound dehiscence in patients undergoing radical cystectomy. METHODS: 2556 patient records with Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for cystectomy between 2005 and 2012 were extracted from the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP). Stratification was made on the basis of the occurrence of postoperative wound dehiscence. This was defined as full disintegrity of the skin and fascial layer. Outcomes of interest included overall complication, mortality, prolonged length of stay and prolonged operative time, the latter two defined as measures above the 75th percentile. Descriptive and logistic regression models were performed to identify predictors of postoperative wound dehiscence. RESULTS: Of 2556 patients analyzed, 74 (2.9%) had a documented wound dehiscence. In multivariable analyses, smoking (OR 2.2 p1⁄4.002), prolonged operative time (OR 1.6;p1⁄40.05) and BMI were associated with increased odds of postoperative wound dehiscences. Female gender was associated with decreased odds of dehiscence (OR 0.4; p1⁄40.022). Elevated preoperative creatinine (>1.2 mg/dl), chronic steroid use and diabetes were not independent predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to identify predictors of wound dehiscence following radical cystectomy in a large multi-institutional prospective cohort. Identifying patients at risk for postoperative wound complications may guide the use preventative measures at the time of surgery. Source of Funding: none

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: PSA screening for prostate cancer is a controversial topic, and little is known regarding a physician’s impact on a patient’s decision to undergo screening. The study’s objective was to evaluate the impact of a patient’s understanding of the risks and benefits of PSA screening compared to the final recommendation of the health care provider on the patient’s decision to undergo PSA screening. METHODS: Using the 2012 BRFSS, males aged 55 years who did not have a prior history of prostate cancer/prostate “problem” and who reported a PSA test within the preceding 12 months were considered to have undergone PSA screening. The percentage of men informed and not informed of the risks and benefits of PSA screening and the percentage men receiving recommendations for PSA screening from their HCP was reported. Multivariable complex-samples logistic regression calculated the odds ratio of undergoing screening in men informed of PSA screening benefits, screening risks, and for those receiving a recommendation to undergo screening. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of men were informed of screening benefits, however 32% were informed of screening risks. After being informed of both, 55.6% of men opted for PSA screening if the HCP recommended it, compared to only 20.6% when not recommended. Men receiving a recommendation to undergo PSA testing had higher odds of undergoing screening (OR 4.98, 95% CI: 4.53-5.48) compared to those who were only informed about screening benefits (OR 2.40, 95% CI: 2.18-2.65) or risks (OR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86-0.98). Significant limitations of our study include recall and non-response bias. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians have a tendency to report the favorable aspects of screening while under informing patients of the possible risks of screening. A patient’s decision to undergo or forgo PSA screening is heavily influenced by the recommendation of their physician, and thus it is imperative that physicians are cognizant of their biases and facilitate an unbiased shared decision making process.