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Background: Given the major changes in internet use for health communication, the objective of the current study was to compare the internet use and wishes of cancer survivors between 2005 and 2017.Methods: The authors drew a sample of 390 patients in 2005 and 539 patients in 2017 who were diagnosed with breast (128 patients in 2005 and 143 patients in 2017), prostate (96 patients in 2005 and 126 patients in 2017), or gynecologic (89 patients in 2005 and 188 patients in 2017) cancer or lymphoma (77 patients in 2005 and 82 patients in 2017) in 4 different hospitals for the periods 2002 through 2004 and 2014 through 2016. These patients were sent a paper-based questionnaire that contained 45 questions regarding demographics and 4 functions of internet use: content, communication, community, and e-health.Results: The response in 2017 (53%) was lower than that in 2005 (75%). Survivors browsed the internet most frequently to search for information regarding cancer shortly after being diagnosed and while waiting for treatment. There was little change noted with regard to the relative importance attached to the various subjects. In 2017, significant increases were evident with regard to finances (+33%), health care insurance (+29%), and genetics and/or heritability (+27%). The wishes expressed in 2005 by patients were realized in part in 2017.Conclusions: A significant sample of cancer survivors in the Netherlands have indicated that the internet is an important source of information regarding their illness. However, little change was evident over the past 15 years with regard to patients' priorities regarding their wishes for internet use. The wishes of users in 2005 were found to accurately reflect the internet use of the majority of patients in 2017. The results of the current study support the belief that health care professionals should expand their online services and tailor them toward the needs and wishes of their patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many new decision aids are developed while aspects of existing decision aids could also be useful, leading to a sub-optimal use of resources. To support treatment decision-making in prostate cancer patients, a pre-existing evidence-based Canadian decision aid was adjusted to Dutch clinical setting. After analyses of the original decision aid and routines in Dutch prostate cancer care, adjustments to the decision aid structure and content were made. Subsequent usability testing (N = 11) resulted in 212 comments. Care providers mainly provided feedback on medical content, and patients commented most on usability and summary layout. All participants reported that the decision aid was comprehensible and well-structured and would recommend decision aid use. After usability testing, final adjustments to the decision aid were made. The presented methods could be useful for cultural adaptation of pre-existing tools into other languages and settings, ensuring optimal usage of previous scientific and practical efforts and allowing for a global, incremental decision aid development process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the satisfaction with information received by prostate cancer survivors and associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and illness perception.Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among 999 patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2009. All patients received a questionnaire on HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30), illness perception (B-IPQ) and satisfaction with information provision (EORTC QLQ-INFO-25). Multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the association between satisfaction with information provision and HRQoL as well as illness perception.Results: Response rate was 70% (N = 697), 34% (N = 222) indicated to be dissatisfied with the information received. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed a significant positive association between satisfaction with information provision and global health (P = <0.001), emotional functioning (P = 0.004), social functioning (P = 0.027), physical functioning (P = 0.002) and role functioning (P = 0.001). Satisfaction was negatively associated with illness perception subscales on consequences (P = 0.020), timeline (P = 0.031), personal control (P = 0.013), treatment control (P < 0.001), illness concern (P < 0.001), coherence (P = 0.001) and emotional representation (P = 0.004). Hence, more satisfied patients reported fewer consequences of disease, illness concern and emotional representation, but higher personal and treatment control and coherence.Conclusions: A third of all prostate cancer survivors reported to be dissatisfied with the information received and scored worse on HRQoL and illness perception. A prospective randomized study is needed to study the effect of an intervention that improves information provision on HRQoL and illness perception outcomes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of left ventricular filling and variations in end diastolic volume on cardiac performance was studied in the intact dog heart. Left ventricular filling volumes and stroke volumes were calculated on a beat to beat basis from measurements of natural mitral inflow and aortic outflow obtained by electromagnetic flow sensors.Instantaneous controlled modifications of end diastolic volume were performed through a cannula situated in the left ventricle and connected to a pump system outside the dog. This system enabled controlled increases or decreases of the end diastolic volume at any prechosen moment during the diastolic pause. Absolute volume variations in end diastolic volume and end systolic volumes could be calculated by combining the integrated flow signals from different consecutive beats. Left ventricular performance was evaluated in terms of end systolic volume and end systolic pressure variations.When the diastolic volume was abruptly increased by the pump system, natural mitral inflow decreased but end diastolic volume increased. The effect on diastolic pressure was dependent on the variation in filling rate, the amplitude of the infusion, the moment at which the infusion was started, and the diastolic pressure at the start of the infusion. Also stroke volume, maximal systolic pressure (PMAX), end systolic pressure, and end diastolic volume increased. The increased systolic performance was attributed to the increased end diastolic volume as expected according to Starling's law.When end diastolic volume was rapidly decreased during diastole by the pump, natural filling volumes increased to compensate for the volume loss by the pump. End diastolic volume was, however, smaller indicating that full compensation was not achieved. Evaluation of ventricular performance in terms of end systolic pressure and end systolic volume showed a decreased end systolic pressure and increased end systolic volume compared with the control values. The effect of a pump withdrawal was 1.62(0.38) times larger than could be explained on the basis of Starling's law. After the infusion of adrenaline the intrinsic depression disappeared and the influence of the volume withdrawal on cardiac performance was as expected from the Starling mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of quick diastolic volume changes on systolic performance of ejecting left ventricles. To measure left ventricular systolic performance the maximum ratio of ventricular pressure (P) and volume (V) was calculated on beat-to-beat basis when the diastolic loading conditions were varied in different ways. These end-systolic P-V (P-VES) points were obtained from both isovolumic and ejecting contractions. A deviation from the P-VES relation is thought to result from factors changing the inotropic condition of the heart.When steady state isovolumic and ejecting P-VES data were collected linear P-VES relations were found. The relations coincided when stroke volumes were not too large. When the diastolic volume was quickly changed (ie 10 to 20 ms) late in diastole, the P-VES points of the resulting contractions showed a significant deviation from the steady state relation (p<0.001). This deviation was dependent on the magnitude of the volume step. After quick volume infusions the heart ejected to end-systolic volume (ESV) values that were smaller than expected from the steady state P-VES relation and the end-systolic pressure (ESP) was larger. After quick volume withdrawals ESV values were larger and ESP was smaller than expected. The magnitude of the effect was not dependent on the preset basic diastolic volume if the volume changes were considered as fractions of end-diastolic volumes (EDV). It is concluded that when diastolic volumes are varied just before stimulation, a significant deviation of the P- VES point from the steady state P-VES relation is found in the following contraction. This phenomenon suggests an alteration in the inotropic state of the heart. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To evaluate treatment preferences of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) before and after using a web-based decision aid (DA)., Patients and Methods: Between July 2016 and January 2017 patients were invited to use a web-based LUTS/BPH DA. Treatment preferences (for lifestyle advices, medication or surgery) before and after DA use and responses on values clarification exercises were extracted from the DA., Results: In total, 126 patients were included in the analysis. Thirty-four percent (43/126) had not received any previous treatment and were eligible for (continuation of) lifestyle advices or to start medication, as initial treatment. The other 66% (83/126) did use medication and were eligible, either for continuing medication or to undergo surgery. Before being exposed to the DA, 67 patients (53%) were undecided and 59 patients (47%) indicated an initial treatment preference. Half of the patients who were initially undecided were able to indicate a preference after DA use (34/67, 51%). Of those with an initial preference, 80% (47/59) confirmed their initial preference after DA use. Five out of 7 values clarification exercises used in the DA were discriminative between final treatment preferences. In 79%, the treatment preferred after DA use matched the received treatment. Overall, healthcare providers were positive about DA feasibility., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a LUTS/BPH DA may help patients to confirm their initial treatment preference and support them in forming a treatment preference if they did not have an initial preference., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Given the major changes in internet use for health communication, the objective of the current study was to compare the internet use and wishes of cancer survivors between 2005 and 2017., Methods: The authors drew a sample of 390 patients in 2005 and 539 patients in 2017 who were diagnosed with breast (128 patients in 2005 and 143 patients in 2017), prostate (96 patients in 2005 and 126 patients in 2017), or gynecologic (89 patients in 2005 and 188 patients in 2017) cancer or lymphoma (77 patients in 2005 and 82 patients in 2017) in 4 different hospitals for the periods 2002 through 2004 and 2014 through 2016. These patients were sent a paper-based questionnaire that contained 45 questions regarding demographics and 4 functions of internet use: content, communication, community, and e-health., Results: The response in 2017 (53%) was lower than that in 2005 (75%). Survivors browsed the internet most frequently to search for information regarding cancer shortly after being diagnosed and while waiting for treatment. There was little change noted with regard to the relative importance attached to the various subjects. In 2017, significant increases were evident with regard to finances (+33%), health care insurance (+29%), and genetics and/or heritability (+27%). The wishes expressed in 2005 by patients were realized in part in 2017., Conclusions: A significant sample of cancer survivors in the Netherlands have indicated that the internet is an important source of information regarding their illness. However, little change was evident over the past 15 years with regard to patients' priorities regarding their wishes for internet use. The wishes of users in 2005 were found to accurately reflect the internet use of the majority of patients in 2017. The results of the current study support the belief that health care professionals should expand their online services and tailor them toward the needs and wishes of their patients., (© 2019 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Cancer Society.)

Objective: To evaluate perspectives of the multidisciplinary team concerning shared decision-making (SDM) in treatment decisions for older patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)., Materials and Methods: A survey among Dutch healthcare providers was conducted to assess healthcare providers' perspectives on patient involvement in decision-making and the value of a decision aid (DA) in the decision-making process. Treatment recommendations were assessed using hypothetical cases in which providers were asked to evaluate their likelihood of pursuing listed treatment options., Results: In total, 170 Dutch healthcare providers, including 82 urologists, 31 oncologists, and 57 oncology nurses completed the survey. Sixty-two percent of urologists, 65% of oncologists, and 51% of oncology nurses found that mCRPC patients take a passive role in decision-making and delegate treatment decisions to doctors due to advanced age (p = .45). Yet, 70% of urologists, 71% of oncologists, and 63% of oncology nurses agreed that mCRPC patients should be always involved in decision-making (p = .91). Fifty-two percent of urologists and 55% of oncologists stated that they are inadequately trained to apply SDM in clinical practice. Conversely, only 20% of oncology nurses believed that oncology nurses are inadequately trained. Fifty-four percent of all providers considered a DA suitable to support these patients and their healthcare providers in the decision-making process. All hypothetical cases showed variation in treatment recommendations among providers, with each of the five treatments ranging from extremely likely to extremely unlikely., Conclusions: The wide variation of treatment recommendations observed among the multidisciplinary team suggests that mCRPC patients and their healthcare providers may benefit from implementation of informed SDM. Given the perceived passive role of older patients with mCRPC in decision-making, interventions to engage them are needed. With slightly more than half of respondents finding DAs useful to facilitate the decision-making process, development and implementation of a DA would be an interesting field of research., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based decision aid (DA), with values clarification exercises compared with usual care, for men with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH)., Patients and Methods: Between July 2016 and January 2017, all new patients with LUTS/BPH who consulted the urologist were invited to use the DA and participate in this prospective questionnaire study. Patients who consulted the urologist between December 2015 and February 2016 served as controls. The DA was designed to support patients in making a well-informed treatment decision, corresponding with their personal preferences and values. Well-informed decision was measured by using a knowledge questionnaire. Value congruent decision was measured by the correspondence between responses on nine value statements and chosen treatment. The primary outcome, decision quality, was defined as the combination of well-informed decision and value congruent decision. Secondary outcomes were decisional conflict, involvement and received role in shared decision-making, decisional regret, and treatment choice., Results: A total of 109 DA-users and 108 controls were included. DA-users were younger (68.4 vs 71.5 years; P = 0.003) and their education level was higher (P = 0.047) compared with the controls. Patients who used the DA made a well-informed and value congruent decision more often than the control group (43% vs 21%; P = 0.028). DA-users had less decisional conflict (score 33.2 vs 46.6; P = 0.003), experienced a less passive role in decision-making (22% vs 41%; P = 0.038), and reported less process regret (score 2.4 vs 2.8; P = 0.034). Furthermore, DA-users who had not used prior medication chose lifestyle advices more often than the control group (43% vs 11%; P = 0.002). Outcomes were adjusted for significantly different baseline characteristics., Conclusion: The LUTS/BPH DA seems to improve the decision quality by supporting patients in making more well-informed and value congruent treatment decisions. Therefore, further implementation of this DA into routine care is suggested., (© 2018 The Authors BJU International © 2018 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To investigate the effect of including an online decision aid (DA) during prostate cancer treatment counseling on decisional regret and information satisfaction in a one-year follow-up., Methods: Within a cluster RCT, 18 Dutch hospitals were randomized to DA counseling or care-as-usual, patients (n = 382) initially completed questionnaires directly after treatment decision making. Six and twelve months later regret (Decisional Regret Scale) and information satisfaction (SCIP-B) were assessed. Anxious and depressive symptoms (HADS) was included as possible covariate., Results: After 12 months, 43 participants (15%) regretted their treatment choice and 105 participants (36%) were dissatisfied with the information that was received at the time of decision-making, regardless of being exposed to the DA. Anxious and depressive symptoms at follow-up were associated with regret and information dissatisfaction., Conclusion: No long-term benefical effects emerged from DA usage compared to patients who underwent standard counseling., Practice Implications: During PCa treatment counseling, healthcare providers should be aware of anxious and depressive symptoms., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine the effect of a decision aid (DA) on treatment preferences and to investigate which patient preferences are important for final treatment preferences. We also determined if the patient׳s treatment decision was influenced by the urologist׳s treatment preference., Patients and Methods: Between August 2014 and July 2015, newly diagnosed patients with low-/intermediate-risk prostate cancer were offered to use a web-based DA after diagnosis. Treatment preferences and patient׳s values were extracted from the DA. Urologists׳ treatment preferences were indicated at the time of inclusion., Results: We included 181 patients, of whom 21% preferred active surveillance, 33% radical prostatectomy, 10% brachytherapy, 3% external beam radiotherapy, and 34% did not indicate a specific preferred treatment option after DA use (missing N = 6). Among 67%, treatment preference before DA use did not change after DA use. In men who chose active surveillance after DA use, 97% (37/38) preferred to postpone unnecessary treatment. For radical prostatectomy, 91% (52/57) of the patients valued tumor removal, and for brachytherapy, 88% (15/17) valued incontinence worse than bowel complaints. For 64% (missing N = 21) of the patients, urologists indicated one specific preferred treatment option as most suitable for the patient concerned. Agreement between final treatment decision and urologist׳s preference was lower (κ = 0.68) than between final treatment decision and preferred treatment after DA use (κ = 0.82)., Conclusion: Most patients with prostate cancer chose the treatment in accordance with the post-DA preference and to a lesser extent the urologists preference; implications of this are prospectively investigated in an ongoing study., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate decision-making role preferences and their association with the evaluation of information received in a sample of low-risk and intermediate-risk prostate cancer (Pca) survivors., Methods: Cross-sectional study involved 562 men diagnosed with low-risk or intermediate-risk Pca (median time since diagnosis, 48mo), measuring preferred decision-making role (Control Preference Scale) and the evaluation of information received (EORTC QLQ-INFO25). Analyses were performed using analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and multivariable linear regression models., Results: Men who preferred a passive role were older and less educated than other preference groups and more often selected a noninvasive treatment option (all with P<0.001). The passive role preference group reported having received less information, judged the received information as less helpful, and indicated lower overall satisfaction with information received (all with P<0.05). Role preference groups did not differ in their desire to receive more information., Conclusion: Compared with nonpassive preference groups, the preference for a passive role in Pca treatment decision-making is associated with less satisfaction with the information received., Practice Implications: Assessment of role preferences and tailored information provision could improve satisfaction with information received and perhaps may ultimately lead to improved patient participation in treatment decision-making., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To develop a web-based decision aid (DA) for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH)., Methods: From February-September 2014 we performed a four-stage development method: 1: Two-round Delphi consensus method among urologists, 2: Identifying patients' needs and expectations, 3: Development of DA content and structure, 4: Usability testing with LUTS/BPH patients., Results: 1 (N=15): Dutch urologists reached consensus on 61% of the statements concerning users' criteria, decision options, structure, and medical content. 2 (N=24): Consensus was reached in 69% on statements concerning the need for improvement of information provision, the need for DA development and that the DA should clarify patients' preferences. 3: DA development based on results from stage 1 and stage 2. 4 (N=10): Pros of the DA were clear information provision, systematic design and easy to read and re-read., Conclusion: A LUTS/BPH DA containing VCEs(**) was developed in cooperation with urologists and patients following a structured 4 stage method and was stated to be well accepted., Practice Implications: This method can be adopted for the development of DAs to support other medical decision issues., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of positive surgical margins (PSM) on health-related quality of life and illness perception after radical prostatectomy in patients with prostate cancer., Methods: Of all patients with prostate cancer diagnosed between 2006 and 2009 in 7 participating hospitals in the Eindhoven region of the Netherlands Cancer Registry, 197 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy were invited to fill in a questionnaire. Data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry were combined with questionnaire data (including European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire-C30, quality of life questionnaire-Prostate Module 25, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire). Mean scores per margin status group were compared in multivariate linear regression., Results: Of the addressed patients, 166 (84%) responded to the questionnaire. At time of questioning, their surgery was 1.7 to 6.4 years ago. The prevalence of PSM was 34%. On most scales, patients with PSM reported more favorable scores than patients with negative surgical margins. However, differences were mostly trivial (<5 points on 100-point scales), or of small (5-10) to medium (10-20) clinical importance. Only differences on hormonal complaints and illness comprehensibility were statistically significant. Effect of PSM on scores did not vary between patients who were at different time points after surgery., Conclusion: Although patients with PSM showed a trend toward more favorable scores, these differences were of little or no clinical importance. Additional research is needed to evaluate how patients value these differences with respect to oncological outcomes., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Additional insight in the occurrence and number of positive surgical margins (PSM) and the potential consequences is needed, since earlier studies show divergent results. This study aims at investigating the effect of the presence and number of PSM on oncological outcomes., Methods: Retrospective population-based cohort study including 648 consecutive prostate cancer patients who underwent RP in the Southern Netherlands in 2006-2008. The effect of PSM on risk of treatment failure, defined by either biochemical recurrence or necessity of any additional therapy (Cox regression), was evaluated., Results: PSM were observed in 39%; 11% had multiple PSM. Treatment failure was observed in 26% of all patients. Multivariably, the presence (hazard ratio 2.5) and number of PSM (hazard ratios: single 2.3; multiple 3.1) were independently associated with higher treatment failure rates, unlike location of PSM., Conclusions: Treatment failure rates are high among patients with PSM, especially in those with multiple PSM. This needs to be taken into account when decisions are made on the applicability of the adjuvant and salvage therapy., (© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Our study assessed whether rising age, socioeconomic status (SES) and the presence of serious comorbidity affected treatment choice and survival in a population-based series of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) in The Netherlands. Therefore, a consecutive series was studied, including all patients diagnosed with MIBC between 1995 and 2009 in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry, preceding centralization of cystectomy. The independent effects of age, SES and serious comorbidity on therapy choice and their effects on overall survival were estimated by multivariate logistic regression and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses, respectively. Out of the 2,445 patients, 38% were aged ≥ 75 years at diagnosis and 63% had at least one serious comorbid condition. Higher age and serious comorbidity were independent predictors for abstaining from cystectomy, where SES was not (61-74 vs. ≤ 60: odds ratio [OR], 0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-1.0; ≥ 75 vs. ≤ 60: OR, 0.1; 95% CI,0.1-0.2; one comorbid condition vs. none: OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-0.9; two vs. none: OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5-0.8). Patients undergoing cystectomy, external beam radiotherapy or interstitial radiotherapy survived longer independent of age, SES and serious comorbidity (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.4-0.5; HR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.7-0.9; HR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3-0.5, respectively). Consequently, preceding centralization of cystectomy, higher age and serious comorbidity were independent predictors for abstaining from cystectomy owing to an expected high rate of short-term medical problems. As cystectomy is associated with a better survival, independently of age, SES and serious comorbidity, it can be questioned whether cystectomy has been underutilised in elderly and in patients with serious comorbidity. Centralization might be a solution for this suggested underutilisation., (© 2014 UICC.)

Unlabelled: Study Type - Prognosis (cohort). Level of Evidence 2a. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The subject of mortality and survival rates after radical cystectomies in high-volume hospitals in comparison to low-volume hospitals has been extensively studied. Postoperative mortality is known to be significantly lower with high-volume providers, but for survival rates there was only a trend forwards this finding. For this reason, we performed this Dutch population-based study on survival rates, to see if we had enough power to support this trend with significant findings. To our knowledge, this is the first study of good quality showing a significant beneficial effect for survival in high-volume hospitals., Objective: • To examine the volume-outcome relationship for carcinoma invading bladder muscle (MIBC) with respect to differences in survival rates among all hospitals in the Netherlands as a guide for regionalization initiatives., Materials and Methods: • This population-based retrospective study included all patients (n= 13 033) newly diagnosed with MIBC during the period 1999-2008 in the Netherlands, selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. • Data were collected on demographics, morphology, stage at diagnosis and after surgery, primary treatment, vital status and date of follow-up or death. • The relative survival rate (RSR) per treatment was analysed for age, stage and hospital surgical volume., Results: • Overall 5 and 10-year RSR for all treatments of MIBC was 32% and 25%, respectively. • Although 71.7% of the patients featured stages II and III, radical cystectomy was only performed in only 42% and 44% of these patients, respectively. • Relative survival for MIBC remained unchanged in the two consecutive time periods (1999-2003 and 2004-2008). • In all, 34% of patients diagnosed in low-volume hospitals (<10 cystectomies/year) underwent cystectomy vs 42% of those diagnosed in high-volume hospitals (P= 0.000). • In a multivariate analysis long-term survival (>30 days after surgery) was significantly lower in patients after cystectomy for stage II/III in low-volume hospitals (hazard ratio [HR] 1.17, P= 0.036). A high lymph node count (>20) was associated with a lower risk of death (HR 0.52, P= 0.000)., Conclusions: • The 10-year RSR for patients with MIBC in the Netherlands was modest (25%) and has remained unchanged in the last decade. • The chance of undergoing cystectomy is significantly higher in high-volume hospitals. Long-term survival after cystectomy is higher in high-volume hospitals. • Regionalization of bladder cancer treatments could improve overall outcomes., (© 2011 THE AUTHORS. BJU INTERNATIONAL © 2011 BJU INTERNATIONAL.)

Context: There is an ongoing debate about centralisation of radical cystectomy (RC) procedures., Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the literature on the volume-outcome relationship for RC for bladder cancer (BCa) with consideration for the methodologic quality of the available evidence and to perform a meta-analysis on the studies meeting predefined quality criteria., Evidence Acquisition: A systematic search was performed to identify all articles examining the effects of procedure volume on clinical outcome for cystectomy. Reviews, opinion articles, and surveys were excluded. All articles were critically appraised for methodologic quality and risk of bias. Meta-analysis was performed to calculate the overall effect of higher surgeon or hospital volume on patient outcome., Evidence Synthesis: Ten studies of good methodologic quality were included for meta-analysis. Eight studies were based on administrative data, two studies on clinical data. The results showed a significant association between high-volume hospitals and low mortality. A meta-analysis of the seven studies on hospital mortality showed a pooled estimated effect of odds ratio (OR) 0.55 (range: 0.44-0.69). The result was moderate heterogeneity (I(2)=50). A large variation in cut-off points used was observed. Sensitivity analyses did not show different effects in any of the subgroup analyses. Also, no significant differences in effect sizes were observed for different cut-off points. The data were not suggestive for publication bias. One study showed a positive effect of hospital volume on survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.89; p=0.06). Two studies showed a beneficial effect of surgeon volume on mortality (OR: 0.55; OR: 0.64). Only one study on the impact of surgeon volume on survival was found; it showed no significant positive effect for higher volume (HR: 0.83; p=0.26)., Conclusions: Postoperative mortality after cystectomy is significantly inversely associated with high-volume providers. However, additional quality criteria, such as infrastructure and level of specialisation, should be formulated to direct centralisation initiatives. The Dutch Association of Urology in 2010 implemented a national quality of care (QoC) registration programme for all patients treated by surgery for muscle-invasive BCa, including multiple parameters defining QoC., (Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To define a set of quantifiable quality of care indicators (QIs) to measure the standard of care in our institute given to patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC)., Patients and Methods: Possible QIs were defined and selected by a multidisciplinary project group from recent literature, guidelines, and/or consensus within the project group. In a retrospective study a baseline for each QI was assessed and compared to a predefined benchmark., Results: Four categories of QIs were selected: (1) care management, (2) accessibility and time management, (3) professional competence, and (4) patient factors. A list of 26 QIs was created. In the retrospective study, it became evident that 22 QIs failed to reach their benchmark, because of (1) an inadequate process of care (n = 5), (2) insufficient care given (n = 14), and (3) data not retrievable in retrospective study design (n = 2). Adjustments were made in the different processes of care in order to improve quality of care., Conclusions: In the face of a complete lack of a QoC registration system for MIBC, we listed 26 quantifiable QIs, to measure QoC in our own institute. Our process of care did not meet 22 of the benchmarks, after which adjustments were made. This QoC registration method is a first step in defining applicable quality of care indicators, for implementation in the clinical practice., (Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: To assess and identify factors associated with the long-term health-related quality of life (HRQL) of prostate cancer survivors managed expectantly, as patients with low-risk prostate cancer can be managed with active surveillance (AS), but research on associated long-term HRQL is scarce., Patients and Methods: From the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, 71 men managed with AS were matched with 71 survivors who had similar demographic and clinical characteristics but treated with external beam radiotherapy (RT). All were diagnosed between 1994 and 1998. HRQL data were collected 5-10 years after diagnosis. Patients completed generic- (Short Form-36) and cancer-specific (Quality of Life - Cancer Survivors) HRQL instruments, and symptom burden (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index, Sexual Activity) questionnaires., Results: Patients on AS were comparable to those treated with RT for most generic- and disease-specific HRQL dimensions. Patients treated with RT had poorer mean (sd) bowel function scores, of 87.1 (13.1) vs 92.8 (10.7) (P < 0.001), more bother with bowel function, at 85.0 (16.4) vs 93.7 (10.1) (P < 0.001), and more problems with getting an erection (68% vs 47%, P = 0.005). Multivariate regression analyses (corrected for comorbidity and clinical disease progression) indicated that the management strategy independently predicted differences in physical functioning, bodily pain, spiritual and total well-being, and bowel function and bowel bother., Conclusions: Patients managed expectantly at initial diagnosis (AS) have comparable HRQL and a lower symptom burden than patients treated with RT up to 10 years after the diagnosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of urodynamic investigation in the preoperative workup of midurethral sling surgery and to identify risk factors for failure after 3 different midurethral sling procedures., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. 437 women who underwent a tension-free vaginal tape, Monarc, or tension-free vaginal tape-obturator procedure without other simultaneously performed urogynecological surgery were included. Preoperative data were collected from the medical files. Patients who reported any amount of leakage were considered failures. The mean follow-up of the study population was 14 months., Results: After multivariate analysis, mixed urinary incontinence (P = .04), previous incontinence surgery (P = .022), and detrusor overactivity (P = .02) were significantly related to failure of midurethral sling procedures. There were no predictive urodynamic parameters for failure in patients with mixed urinary incontinence or previous incontinence surgery., Conclusion: The standard use of urodynamic investigation in the preoperative workup of midurethral sling surgery needs to be revisited.

Purpose: To obtain insight into the long-term (5- to 10-year) effects of prostate cancer and treatment on bowel, urinary, and sexual function, we performed a population-based study. Prostate-specific function was compared with an age-matched normative population without prostate cancer., Methods and Materials: Through the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, we selected all men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1994 and 1998 in the southern Netherlands. In total, 964 patients, alive in November 2004, received questionnaire; 780 (81%) responded., Results: Urinary problems were most common after a prostatectomy; bowel problems were most common after radiotherapy. Compared with an age-matched normative population both urinary and bowel functioning and bother were significantly worse among survivors. Urinary incontinence was reported by 23-48% of survivors compared with 4% of the normative population. Bowel leakage occurred in 5-14% of patients compared with 2% of norms. Erection problems occurred in 40-74% of patients compared with 18% of norms., Conclusions: These results form an important contribution to the limited information available on prostate-specific problems in the growing group of long-term prostate cancer survivors. Bowel, urinary, and sexual problems occur more often among long-term survivors compared with a reference group and cannot be explained merely by age. Because these problems persist for many years, urologists should provide patients with adequate information before treatment. After treatment, there should be an appropriate focus on these problems.

Objective: To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of long-term, disease-free prostate cancer survivors and compare it with that of prostate cancer survivors with diabetes mellitus (DM), and a Dutch normative population, as comorbidity can have a major impact on HRQoL in cancer survivors., Patients and Methods: The Eindhoven Cancer Registry was used to select all men diagnosed with prostate cancer from 1994 to 1998. Questionnaires on HRQoL (Short Form 36) and prostate specific problems (University of California, Los Angeles Expanded Prostate Cancer Index) were sent to 964 patients, and 780 (81%) responded. Excluding patients with disease progression, the sample comprised 525 with prostate cancer and 65 with both prostate cancer and DM. Survivors with DM were more likely to have other comorbid conditions at the time of survey besides DM than were those without DM (74% vs 60%, P = 0.05). At 5-10 years after diagnosis, patients with DM reported worse General Health Perceptions than patients without DM or the normative population (means 52, 61 and 63; P < 0.001). Patients with DM also reported worse Vitality scores (59 vs 63; P < 0.001) than the normative population. Regression analysis indicated that DM was negatively associated with General Health Perceptions (beta = -0.13; P < 0.01) and Vitality (beta = -0.12; P < 0.01). Survivors with DM did not report worse urinary and bowel function or bother, nor more sexual problems than those without DM., Conclusions: Except for general health perceptions and vitality, the HRQoL of prostate cancer survivors with or without DM was comparable to a normative population. Survivorship selection can possibly explain, in part, why patients with DM did not report worse generic or disease-specific HRQoL than those without DM, as had been expected.