BACKGROUND Few studies have analyzed factors that influence longitudinal changes in patient-perceived satisfaction during the recovery period following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer. We investigated variables that were associated with patient-perceived satisfaction after RARP using the expanded prostate cancer index composite (EPIC) survey. METHODS Of 175 men who underwent RARP between 2010 and 2011, 140 men completed the EPIC questionnaire preoperatively and 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. On the basis of the EPIC question no. 32 (item number 80), patients were divided into four groups according to the pattern of satisfaction change at postoperative 3 and 12 months: satisfied to satisfied (group 1); satisfied to dissatisfied (group 2); dissatisfied to satisfied (group 3); and dissatisfied to dissatisfied (group 4). Longitudinal changes in EPIC scores over time in each group and differences in EPIC scores of each domain subscale between groups at each follow-up were analyzed. A linear mixed model with generalized estimating equation approach was used to identify independent factors that influence overall satisfaction among repeated measures from same patients. RESULTS On the basis of the pattern of satisfaction change, groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 had 103 (74.3%), 21 (15.0%), 11 (7.9%) and 5 (2.9%) patients, respectively. The factor that was associated with overall satisfaction was urinary bother (UB) (β = 0.283, 95% confidence interval (0.024, 0.543); P = 0.033) adjusted for other factors under consideration. CONCLUSIONS UB was the independent factor influencing patient-perceived satisfaction after RARP. During post-RARP follow-up, physician should have the optimal management for the patient’s UB.

KeyWordsColumn liquid chromatography Capillary electrophoresis Terbutaline Chiral separation Optical purity testing SummaryThe resolution of chiral drugs, metabolites and related substances continues to be an important area in pharmaceutical analysis. Two methods for the optical purity testing of (R)-(-)-terbutaline were developed, namely capillary electrophoresis using hydroxypropyl-13-cyclodextrin and high-performance liquid chromatography using a chiral stationary phase. Validation data such as linearity, recovery, detection limit, and precision of the ~o methods are presented. The detection limit of (S)-terbutaline in (R)-terbutaline was 0.05% by the HPLC method and 0.03% by the CE method. There was generally good agreement between the HPLC and CE results. These methods were bund to be applicable as a practical quality control method for the enantiomeric purity determination of (R)-terbutaline.

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