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Klein AJ, Eisenhauer C, Mollard E, Shade MY, Alappattu M. Methodologies Used in Studies of Self-Management Interventions for Urinary Incontinence in Adult Women: An Integrative Review. West J Nurs Res 2023; 45:1150-1164. [PMID: 37902161 DOI: 10.1177/01939459231208418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urinary incontinence (UI) affects approximately 60% of women in the United States and negatively impacts self-esteem, sexual function, participation in social activities, and quality of life (QOL). Self-management interventions show promise for improving UI symptoms and QOL. Previous reviews of UI self-management studies have focused on outcomes for older women. However, the literature lacks a synthesis of methodologies of these studies. PURPOSE The purpose of this integrative review was to synthesize and evaluate methodologies used in studies of self-management interventions for UI in adult women. METHODS Using an integrative review approach, a search of PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase was conducted yielding 1404 results, 23 of which met inclusion criteria. Data abstracted from each article included author(s), year of publication, study design and purpose, sample, country and setting, measures of UI symptoms, and intervention description. RESULTS Findings showed methodological differences, particularly in design, assessment of UI subtypes, measures of UI symptoms, and intervention components. Multicomponent self-management interventions were used in 18 studies and 1 component used in 5 studies. Education, pelvic floor muscle exercises, and bladder training were the intervention components most frequently used, either alone or in combination; however, intervention components were not consistently aligned with the UI subtypes. Analysis of ethical matters revealed areas for improvement, specifically in reporting privacy and confidentiality and in methods to obtain informed consent. CONCLUSIONS Results highlight opportunities to improve the rigor of methodologies used in studies of self-management interventions for UI in adult women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbey Jo Klein
- College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth Mollard
- College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Marcia Y Shade
- College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Meryl Alappattu
- College of Public Health and Health Professional, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Li J, Li T, Huang S, Chen L, Cai W. Motivations, psychosocial burdens, and decision-making modes of post-partum women with stress urinary incontinence engaging in pelvic floor physical therapy: a qualitative research. Int Urogynecol J 2023; 34:1803-1813. [PMID: 36745133 DOI: 10.1007/s00192-023-05466-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS This qualitative research explores the motivations, psychosocial burdens, and decision-making modes of post-partum women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) engaging in pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT). METHODS This study was conducted face-to-face in a treatment room using qualitative semi-structured interviews with post-partum women who received PFPT for SUI between May and October 2022. Participant interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed using NVivo software, which is most commonly used for qualitative data analysis. RESULTS Themes that impacted participants' decisions to receive PFPT included avoiding deterioration of SUI symptoms, believing that the sooner it is treated the better, being unable to adhere to home exercise programs, and dissatisfaction with quality of life. Some participants experienced psychosocial burdens when receiving PFPT, including impact on daily activities, worries about the baby, financial burdens, and uncertainty about the effect. There were two modes of decision making, which brought different experiences. Some participants preferred participant-provider shared decision making and reported effective doctor-patient communication, and striving for autonomous decisions. Other participants preferred their clinicians to decide on PFPT protocols in view of their trust in their midwives, institutional reputation, and lacking knowledge of PFPT. CONCLUSIONS We discovered that participants had both motivations and psychosocial burdens when receiving therapy. Some participants preferred participant-provider shared decision making, whereas others preferred their midwives to make decisions. Further more standardized studies with more robust samples are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Department of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Number 1333, Xinhu Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, 518101, Guangdong, China
- School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Tiantian Li
- Department of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Number 1333, Xinhu Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, 518101, Guangdong, China
| | - Shurong Huang
- Department of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Number 1333, Xinhu Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, 518101, Guangdong, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Number 1333, Xinhu Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, 518101, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenzhi Cai
- Department of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Number 1333, Xinhu Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, 518101, Guangdong, China.
- School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
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Gerritse MB, de Swart E, de Vries M, Kluivers KB. Identifying Womens' Needs in Making a Treatment Decision for Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Qualitative Study. WOMEN'S HEALTH REPORTS (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2023; 4:358-366. [PMID: 37476608 PMCID: PMC10354721 DOI: 10.1089/whr.2023.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Background Choosing a treatment option for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a preference-sensitive decision. Nowadays, shared decision making (SDM) is the preferred way of decision making. SDM considers the needs patients have regarding the decision-making process. The aim of this study was to identify decisional needs of women who are making a treatment decision for SUI. Materials and Methods Semistructured interviews were planned with women who had been seeking treatment for SUI. Patients were recruited in two teaching hospitals in the Netherlands. Interviewers used a topic list based on the Ottawa decision support framework. The interviews were transcribed and coded. Themes and subthemes of factors relating to the treatment decision-making process were identified and described. Results We interviewed a total of 16 women. Four major themes of SUI patients' needs were identified: information on disorder and treatment, SDM, personalized health care, and consideration for social context. Within these themes, specific needs varied between individuals. In addition to the provision of objective information, other important identified needs were subjective, such as acknowledgment of symptoms and feeling understood by a physician. It was important for patients that they had a sufficient amount of time to make their decision. Conclusions To ensure a good quality treatment decision in female SUI, several topics need to be addressed in an SDM process. The themes of decisional needs identified in this study can help improve the decision-making process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria B.E. Gerritse
- Department of Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gelderse Vallei Hospital, Ede, the Netherlands
| | - Ellis de Swart
- Department of Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke de Vries
- Institute for Computing and Information Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Kirsten B. Kluivers
- Department of Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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4
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Schulz AE, Dave P, Clearwater W, Liu J, Kase J, Watts K, Abraham N. Assessment of Patient Understanding Prior to Urological Procedures. Urology 2023; 172:18-24. [PMID: 36195166 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate patient understanding of risks, benefits, and alternatives (R/B/A) prior to urological procedures using the teachback method. METHODS Using a preprocedural phone interview, patients recalled general knowledge and R/B/A of a scheduled procedure. A scoring system compared patient responses to a standardized R/B/A list to analyze the level of understanding, graded as incomplete (<25%), partial (25-75%), or complete (>75%). Following the interview, additional education was provided if understanding was inadequate, and patients were queried regarding their satisfaction. RESULTS Patients (n = 99) comprised 46% women; 32% Spanish speaking; Mean age was 64 ± 10.9 years. Procedures included were: intravesical botulinum toxin injection (24), mid-urethral sling (9), colpocleisis (4), prostate biopsy (24), ureteroscopy (16), transurethral resection prostate (11), transurethral resection bladder tumor (11). Across all procedures, the average percent of risks identified was 12%, benefits 63%, and alternatives 35%. No patients had complete understanding, but most had partial (73.7%). Patients had significantly higher level of understanding if they were female (P = 0.02), underwent the same procedure previously (P < 0.01) or any surgery within a year (P = 0.02), and were undergoing an in-office procedures (P = 0.03). After the teachback interview, most patients (90%) were satisfied with their understanding. CONCLUSION In our cohort, patient understanding was alarmingly incomplete and there was substantial benefit in pre-procedural interviews. Our findings highlight the need for improvement in patient education prior to surgery and offers a potential solution using a teachback-based telephone interview.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Priya Dave
- Department of Urology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Whitney Clearwater
- Division of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Jianyou Liu
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Division of Biostatistics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | | | - Kara Watts
- Department of Urology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Nitya Abraham
- Department of Urology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY; Division of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
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5
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Ramage K, Ducey A, Scime NV, Knox E, Brennand EA. Factors affecting women's decision between uterine-preserving versus hysterectomy-based surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. WOMEN'S HEALTH (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 19:17455057231181015. [PMID: 37387264 PMCID: PMC10333630 DOI: 10.1177/17455057231181015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the prevalence of women seeking surgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP), there is a need to understand women's decision-making regarding uterine-preserving versus hysterectomy-based surgeries. Historically, hysterectomy-based surgeries have been the preferred treatment for pelvic organ prolapse; however, contemporary evidence supports uterine-preserving surgeries as equivalent. At present, the lack of information available to the general public and limited options presented at surgical consultation for pelvic organ prolapse may hinder women's autonomy as they navigate surgical treatment. OBJECTIVES To examine the factors affecting women's decision-making processes regarding uterine-preserving or hysterectomy-based surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. DESIGN This is a qualitative study. METHODS We conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews with women seeking surgery for pelvic organ prolapse to explore the factors affecting women's decision-making between hysterectomy-based and uterine-preserving surgeries. RESULTS Women (n = 26) used clinical and personal factors to determine which surgery was best. Women noted that the lack of evidence (clinical and/or anecdotal) available to them hindered their decision-making, causing them to rely more on their own interpretations of the evidence, what they perceived to be "normal," and what their surgeon recommended. Even with standardized discussion regarding the existing clinical equipoise between surgeries at the clinical consultation, some women still had misperceptions that hysterectomy-based surgery would convey the lowest risk of prolapse recurrence and be best for severe prolapse. CONCLUSION There is a need for more transparency in discussions about prolapse and the factors affecting women's decision-making for surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse. Clinicians should be prepared to offer the option of hysterectomy-based or uterine-preserving surgeries and to clearly explain the clinical equipoise between these procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylee Ramage
- Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB,
Canada
| | - Ariel Ducey
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of
Arts, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Natalie V Scime
- Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB,
Canada
- Department of Community Health
Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB,
Canada
| | - Erin Knox
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of
Arts, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Erin A Brennand
- Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB,
Canada
- Department of Community Health
Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB,
Canada
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Knox E, Ramage K, Scime N, Ducey A, Brennand E. A qualitative study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women seeking pelvic organ prolapse surgery in Alberta, Canada. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:e5897-e5906. [PMID: 36073957 PMCID: PMC9538618 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.14020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In addition to altering public infrastructure and social patterning, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed many pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgeries. POP-related stigma, symptomology and the experience of waiting for POP surgery can negatively impact women's quality of life and mental health. The experience of preoperative POP patients during the pandemic thus entails a new intersection of gendered, stigmatic and medical realities. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 preoperative POP patients as part of a larger qualitative study, 20 of whom spontaneously volunteered information about how the pandemic coloured their experience living with and awaiting surgery for POP. Interviews occurred between January and July 2021, which coincided with the second and third waves of the pandemic in Alberta, Canada, and before full immunisation was available for all Albertans. Pandemic-related interview excerpts were thematically analysed, and four main findings emerged. (1) Though surgical delay meant living with unpleasant symptoms for longer than anticipated, some sought this out in order to protect vulnerable loved ones from possible hospital-acquired infection, (2) shifting and unclear hospital policies and logistics resulted in intense preoperative stress, at times causing women to temporarily cease treatment, (3) decreased access to public restroom infrastructure caused women to reduce their outings and (4) the imperative to minimise social gatherings made it easier for women to engage in POP-related, shame-based self-isolation without the notice of friends and family. As they can influence postoperative outcomes and treatment adherence, trends observed should be of interest to clinicians and policymakers alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Knox
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of ArtsUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Kaylee Ramage
- Department of Obstetrics & GynecologyCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Natalie Scime
- Department of Obstetrics & GynecologyCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
- Department of Community Health SciencesCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Ariel Ducey
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of ArtsUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Erin Brennand
- Department of Obstetrics & GynecologyCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
- Department of Community Health SciencesCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
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“Broken”—How Identities as Women, Mothers and Partners Are Intertwined with the Experience of Living with and Seeking Treatment for Pelvic Organ Prolapse. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095179. [PMID: 35564573 PMCID: PMC9100064 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) occurs when one or more pelvic organs descend into or through the vaginal opening, significantly impacting physical and mental health. POP affects the female reproductive tract and, overwhelmingly, people who identify as women. However, little research has examined the impact of gendered expectations on women’s treatment-seeking for POP and their decision-making around surgery for POP. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 women seeking surgery for POP in Alberta, Canada. Data were analyzed from a gender-based lens, using the Framework Method. Participants reported the need to balance their identities as women, partners, and mothers in their pursuit of treatment and faced many barriers to treatment related to their gendered responsibilities. Findings highlight the gendered experiences of prolapse in the context of healthcare needs and can inform policies and practices which promote more equitable access to prolapse treatment.
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8
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Geary RS, Gurol-Urganci I, Mamza JB, Lynch R, El-Hamamsy D, Wilson A, Cohn S, Tincello D, van der Meulen J. Variation in availability and use of surgical care for female urinary incontinence: a mixed-methods study. HEALTH SERVICES AND DELIVERY RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.3310/hsdr09070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Urinary incontinence affects between 25% and 45% of women. The availability and quality of services is variable and inequitable, but our understanding of the drivers is incomplete.
Objectives
The objectives of the study were to model patient, specialist clinician, primary and secondary care, and geographical factors associated with referral and surgery for urinary incontinence, and to explore women’s experiences of urinary incontinence and expectations of treatments.
Design
This was a mixed-methods study.
Setting
The setting was NHS England.
Participants
Data were collected from all women with a urinary incontinence diagnosis in primary care data, and all women undergoing mid-urethral mesh tape surgery for stress urinary incontinence were included. Interviews were also carried out with 28 women from four urogynaecology clinics who were deciding whether or not to have surgery, and surveys were completed by 245 members of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists with a specialist interest in urinary incontinence.
Data sources
The sources were patient-level data from Hospital Episode Statistics, the Clinical Practice Research Datalink and the Office for National Statistics mortality data linked to Hospital Episode Statistics. Interviews were conducted with women. An online vignette survey was conducted with members of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Main outcome measures
The main outcome measures were the rates of referral from primary to secondary care and surgery after referral, the rates of stress urinary incontinence surgery by geographical area, the risk of mid-urethral mesh tape removal and reoperation after mid-urethral mesh tape insertion.
Results
Almost half (45.8%) of women with a new urinary incontinence diagnosis in primary care were referred to a urinary incontinence specialist: 59.5% of these referrals were within 30 days of diagnosis. In total, 14.2% of women referred to a specialist underwent a urinary incontinence procedure (94.5% of women underwent a stress urinary incontinence procedure and 5.5% underwent an urgency urinary incontinence procedure) during a follow-up period of up to 10 years. Not all women were equally likely to be referred or receive surgery. Both referral and surgery were less likely for older women, those who were obese and those from minority ethnic backgrounds. The stress urinary incontinence surgery rate was 40 procedures per 100,000 women per year, with substantial geographical variation. Among women undergoing mid-urethral mesh tape insertion for stress urinary incontinence, the 9-year mesh tape removal rate was 3.3%. Women’s decision-making about urinary incontinence surgery centred on perceptions of their urinary incontinence severity and the seriousness/risk of surgery. Women judged urinary incontinence severity in relation to their daily lives and other women’s experiences, rather than frequency or quantity of leakage, as is often recorded and used by clinicians. Five groups of UK gynaecologists could be distinguished who differed mainly in their average inclination to recommend surgery to hypothetical urinary incontinence patients. The gynaecologists’ recommendations were also influenced by urinary incontinence subtype and the patient’s history of previous surgery.
Limitations
The primary and secondary care data lacked information on the severity of urinary incontinence.
Conclusions
There was substantial variation in rates of referrals, surgery, and mesh tape removals, both geographically and between women of different ages and women from different ethnic backgrounds. The variation persisted after adjustment for factors that were likely to affect women’s preferences. Growing safety concerns over mid-urethral mesh tape surgery for stress urinary incontinence during the period from which the data are drawn are likely to have introduced more uncertainty to women’s and clinicians’ treatment decision-making.
Future work
Future work should capture outcomes relevant to women, including ongoing urinary incontinence and pain that is reported by women themselves, both before and after mesh and non-mesh procedures, as well as following conservative treatments. Future research should examine long-term patient-reported outcomes of treatment, including for women who do not seek further health care or surgery, and the extent to which urinary incontinence severity explains observed variation in referrals and surgery.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 9, No. 7. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Geary
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Centre for Quality Improvement and Clinical Audit, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, UK
| | - Ipek Gurol-Urganci
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Centre for Quality Improvement and Clinical Audit, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, UK
| | - Jil B Mamza
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Centre for Quality Improvement and Clinical Audit, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Lynch
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Dina El-Hamamsy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leicester General Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
| | - Andrew Wilson
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Simon Cohn
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Douglas Tincello
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Jan van der Meulen
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Centre for Quality Improvement and Clinical Audit, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, UK
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Ducey A, Donoso C, Ross S, Robert M. From anatomy to patient experience in pelvic floor surgery: Mindlines, evidence, responsibility, and transvaginal mesh. Soc Sci Med 2020; 260:113151. [PMID: 32738706 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Beginning in the late 1990s, surgeons around the world widely adopted the transvaginal placement of permanent synthetic mesh for the treatment of several common pelvic floor disorders in women. By 2012 it had become the subject of extensive litigation, including one of the biggest mass-tort cases in U.S. history, with litigants reporting debilitating and unexpected complications. Based on qualitative research that includes interviews with surgeons, observations of medical conferences, and analysis of archival materials, we argue the adoption of transvaginal mesh cannot be fully explained without recognizing the role of mindlines, or collective moral-epistemological ways of knowing and acting responsibly. The adoption of mesh was anchored in a mindline focused on repairing anatomy. The harms that resulted from transvaginal mesh necessitated a shift to a focus on patient experience. We analyze the role of evidence-based medicine (EBM) in the re-organization of these surgeons' mindlines, showing that mindlines are not reducible to evidence as defined by EBM and that evidence thus defined facilitated the adoption of transvaginal mesh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Ducey
- Department of Sociology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Claudia Donoso
- Graduate International Relations, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Sue Ross
- Women's Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Alexandra Hospital, University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Magali Robert
- Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary, Canada
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