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Patient navigation for overactive bladder improves access to care

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Patients with overactive bladder (OAB) become discouraged with medication therapy because of the side effects, minimal subjective improvement and costs of therapy. With the implementation of a patient navigation pathway there is increased communication, subsequently leading to increased patient retention rates and utilization of third-line therapies.

Methods

This was a quality improvement study carried out over a 17-month period comparing utilization of a navigation pathway versus patients without navigation. The data were obtained using an online database (PPS Analytics) to compare medication use, cystoscopy, urodynamic studies, use of third-line therapy, and return visits.

Results

A total of 535 patients were included in the analysis and broken down into two respective groups. Group 1 were those placed on the navigation pathway and able to be reached via telephone (n = 431). Group 2 were those started on the navigation pathway who were not able to be reached via telephone, but were chart reviewed by a navigator (n = 104). Third-line therapy usage for groups 1 and 2 was 24% and 11% respectively. Return visits for additional OAB management for groups 1 and 2 were found to be 71% and 50% respectively.

Conclusion

Patient retention levels and utilization of third-line therapies are significantly improved when utilizing a navigation pathway. With 24% of the patients included in this study opting for third-line therapy, this represents a 600% increase in third-line therapies over national averages.

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Abbreviations

AUA:

American Urological Association

FPMRS:

Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery

OAB:

Overactive bladder

SUFU:

Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction

UDS:

Urodynamic studies

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Metro Health Hospital: University of Michigan Health Department of Urological Surgery, 5900 Byron Center Avenue, Wyoming, MI, 49519, USA

    Matthew Rohloff, Gregg Peifer & Jannah H. Thompson

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  1. Matthew Rohloff
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  2. Gregg Peifer
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  3. Jannah H. Thompson
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Correspondence to Matthew Rohloff.

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Rohloff, M., Peifer, G. & Thompson, J.H. Patient navigation for overactive bladder improves access to care. Int Urogynecol J 31, 1007–1012 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-04085-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-04085-7

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