Objectives To determine if boys with acute testicular torsion, a surgical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment to optimize salvage of the testicle, delayed presentation to a medical facility and experienced an extended duration of symptoms (DoS), and secondarily, a higher rate of orchiectomy, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods Single-center, descriptive retrospective chart review of boys presenting with acute testicular torsion from March 15, to May 4, 2020 (“during COVID-19” or group 2), as well as for the same time window in the 5-year period from 2015 to 2019 (“pre–COVID-19” or group 1). Results A total of 78 boys met inclusion criteria, group 1 (n = 57) and group 2 (n = 21). The mean age was 12.86 ± 2.63 (group 1) and 12.86 ± 2.13 (group 2). Mean DoS before presentation at a medical facility was 23.2 ± 35.0 hours in group 1 compared with 21.3 ± 29.7 hours in group 2 ( P < 0.37). When DoS was broken down into acute (<24 hours) versus delayed (≥24 hours), 41 (71.9%) of 57 boys in group 1 and 16 (76.2%) of 21 boys in group 2 presented within less than 24 hours of symptom onset ( P < 0.78). There was no difference in rate of orchiectomy between group 1 and group 2 (44.7% vs 25%, P < 0.17), respectively. Conclusions Boys with acute testicular torsion in our catchment area did not delay presentation to a medical facility from March 15, to May 4, 2020, and did not subsequently undergo a higher rate of orchiectomy.
ObjectivesAnticholinergic medications are a core treatment strategy for overactive bladder (OAB). There is evidence that exposure to anticholinergic medications is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. We launched an initiative to inform our patients of this risk and give them an opportunity to engage in shared decision-making about their treatment. This quality improvement initiative encompassed 3 aims: (1) to evaluate the feasibility of 2 different routes to deliver the written outreach; (2) to evaluate if and how patients changed their OAB treatment; and (3) to assess satisfaction with the outreach initiative.MethodsA query was performed via the electronic medical record for all patients who had been prescribed an anticholinergic for treatment of OAB. We sent either electronic messages or traditional mail to patients. We contacted patients by telephone to assess if they received the message, were satisfied with their respective method of communication, and decided for ongoing treatment. Health care provider satisfaction was also measured.ResultsOf the 231 patients sent the outreach, 32 were still taking the anticholinergic at the time they received the communication. The majority of patients, 84.38%, were satisfied with the initiative and elected to change therapy after learning about the increased risk of dementia. The physicians also uniformly reported satisfaction with the initiative.ConclusionsOverall, this outreach initiative resulted in an increase in patient counseling that led to a change in treatment for most patients. This initiative was received favorably by patients and health care providers.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.