UNDERDETECTION OF CLINICAL BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA IN A GENERAL MEDICAL-PRACTICE

Citation
Mf. Mcnaughton et al., UNDERDETECTION OF CLINICAL BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA IN A GENERAL MEDICAL-PRACTICE, Journal of general internal medicine, 11(9), 1996, pp. 513-518
Citations number
57
Categorie Soggetti
Medicine, General & Internal
ISSN journal
08848734
Volume
11
Issue
9
Year of publication
1996
Pages
513 - 518
Database
ISI
SICI code
0884-8734(1996)11:9<513:UOCBPH>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To measure detection of clinical benign prostatic hyperplas ia (BPH) in a general medicine practice. DESIGN: Self-administered que stionnaire and retrospective ambulatory medical record review, SETTING : Hospital-based general medicine practice. PATIENTS: Two hundred and four men aged 50 years and older, MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Clini cal information was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire co ntaining the American Urological Association symptom index and the BPH Impact Index bother scale, and from retrospective review of ambulator y medical records for the previous 24 months. Thirty percent of patien ts had moderate to severe urinary tract symptoms, and 67% of these ind ividuals were bothered by the symptoms, Only 52% with moderate to seve re symptoms recalled any discussion with their primary care physician about their symptoms. There was medical record documentation of a revi ew of urinary tract symptoms in only 18% and a prostate examination in only 64%, Patients with more symptoms and bother tended to recall a d iscussion of urinary tract symptoms with their physician, However, mod erate to severe symptoms and bother were not associated with increased documentation of a history of urinary tract symptoms or prostate exam ination. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical BPH was underdetected in a general medi cine practice. Because many men do not complain to their physicians ab out urinary tract symptoms and reduced quality of life, perhaps primar y care physicians should pay more attention to recognizing this common condition of older men.