A systematic review of models of care for polycystic ovary syndrome highlights the gap in the literature, especially in developing countries

Abstract

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to identify available polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) models of care (MoCs) and describe their characteristics and alignment with the international PCOS guideline.MethodsOvid MEDLINE, All EBM, PsycINFO, Embase, and CINAHL were searched from inception until 11 July 2022. Any study with a description of a PCOS MoC was included. Non-evidence-based guidelines, abstracts, study protocols, and clinical trial registrations were excluded. We also excluded MoCs delivered in research settings to minimize care bias. Meta-analysis was not performed due to heterogeneity across MoCs. We describe and evaluate each MoC based on the recommendations made by the international evidence-based guideline for assessing and managing PCOS.ResultsOf 3,671 articles, six articles describing five MoCs were included in our systematic review. All MoCs described a multidisciplinary approach, including an endocrinologist, dietitian, gynecologist, psychologist, dermatologist, etc. Three MoCs described all aspects of PCOS care aligned with the international guideline recommendations. These include providing education on long-term risks, lifestyle interventions, screening and management of emotional well-being, cardiometabolic diseases, and the dermatological and reproductive elements of PCOS. Three MoCs evaluated patients’ and healthcare professionals’ satisfaction, with generally positive findings. Only one MoC explored the impact of their service on patients’ health outcomes and showed improvement in BMI.ConclusionThere is limited literature describing PCOS MoCs in routine practice. Future research should explore developing cost-effective co-created multidisciplinary PCOS MoCs globally. This may be facilitated by the exchange of best practices between institutions with an established MoC and those who are interested in setting one up.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=346539, identifier CRD42022346539.

Improving emotional and psychosexual well-being screening in women living with polycystic ovary syndrome: experiences from the United Kingdom and India

“…While accepting the limitations in the frequency of post-clinic survey completion and recall bias, the pre-clinic survey completion rate suggests a better screening than screening during consultation. Existing literature also suggests limited screening for emotional well-being, which aligns with our paper’s values ( 19 , 20 , 21 ). Therefore, such screening tools could help address the unmet need.…”

Self-esteem and body image satisfaction in women with PCOS in the Middle East: Cross-sectional social media study

“…However, there is the need for future research that should focus on defining the issue of body image through validated questionnaires that include emotional and psychosexual elements and address ethnicity [ 51 ]. There is a limited literature on PCOS models of care; therefore, there is a need to explore new models of care in alignment with international guidelines, potentially facilitated through the exchange of information between institutions with established best practice [ 52 ].…”