Trends in the Medical Management of Urolithiasis: A Comparison of General Urologists and Endourology Specialists

Prophylaxis of Recurrent Stone Disease in Outpatient Clinics in Germany: A Quality-of-Care Concern

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to survey current practices for preventing recurrent stone disease in an outpatient clinic setting in Germany.

METHODS

Two invitations to complete an anonymous REDCap® survey were emailed to members of the occupational union of German urologists who work as outpatient urologists ("Berufsverband Deutscher Urologen e.V."). The survey included questions on diagnostic modalities and counselling to prevent stone disease.

RESULTS

A total of 130 outpatient urologists completed the survey. 84.6% of urologists give general advice to first-time stone formers. Recommendations comprise increased fluid uptake in 100%, two-thirds advice on calcium and oxalate intake, and one-third on salt and protein intake. 64.6% perform a metabolic evaluation for high-risk stone formers. However, patients with risk factors other than repeat stone disease are often overlooked. Urologists agreed that a lack of time (73.1%) and reimbursement (64.6%), as well as insufficient patient compliance (60.8%), pose significant challenges. The majority of urologists agreed that training is required.

CONCLUSION

General recommendations for stone formers are usually provided, but nutritional advice tends to be incomplete. Our results raise quality-of-care concerns: Metabolic evaluation of stone formers at high risk of recurrence is uncommon. Structural changes are required due to time constraints, and poor remuneration must be addressed to improve patient care.

An empirical study on hospital-based prevention of recurrent urinary stone disease in Germany

Purpose

Urinary stone disease is a common disease with a prevalence of 4.7% in Germany. The incidence increased over the last decades, and recurrence rates are up to 50% in the first 5 years after diagnosis. Adequate preventive measures can avoid up to 46% of stone recurrences. These numbers outline the importance of prevention. Especially among high-risk stone formers, specific diagnostics and measures are required. Published data indicate the divergence between the importance of prevention and its implementation in everyday clinical practice. This is the first survey among German urological departments highlighting medical care concerning the prevention of recurrent urinary stone disease, identifying challenges and providing recommendations for improvements.

Methods

Two hundred and seventy urological hospital departments in Germany were anonymously surveyed about measurements to prevent recurrent stone disease. The questionnaire comprised 23 items dealing with diagnostics, counselling, knowledge among doctors concerning preventive measures and difficulties in preventing recurrent urinary stone disease.

Results

Sixty-three urological departments (23.8%) answered the survey. The majority perform stone analysis at first and repeat events. Most patients with urinary stone disease receive general advice on preventive measures during their hospitalization. General recommendations focus on fluid intake and lifestyle changes. However, specific diets are infrequently recommended by inpatient urologists. Diagnostics to identify high-risk stone formers are mostly insufficient, and guideline-compliant urine tests are uncommon.

Conclusion

The quality of secondary prevention needs to improve considerably. The focus should be put on identifying high-risk stone formers and offering those patients specific counselling. Furthermore, general advice on dietary recommendations should be extended.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00345-021-03813-3.

Contemporary Attitudes and Practice Patterns of North American Urologists in Investigating Stone-Forming Patients-A Survey of Endourological Society Members

INTRODUCTION

Recent evidence would suggest a low rate of metabolic assessment in stone formers, even in those deemed as high risk. We wished to assess the attitudes and practice patterns of metabolic work up in North American members of the Endourological Society as part of the management of stone-forming patients.

METHODS

A 12-question online multiple-choice questionnaire (using Survey Monkey(®)) was distributed to all members of the Endourological Society through e-mail. Descriptive analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 124 North American members of the Endourological Society responded (90% endourologists, 65% fellowship trained). Ninety-seven percent perform metabolic assessments without referring to a consultant. Eighty-three percent use a commercial analysis company and 17% request serum or urine parameters individually. Ninety-seven percent believe that 24-48-hour urine collection is a better way of assessing patients for metabolic abnormalities than a "basic analysis." Many respondents (37%) would be more likely to metabolically assess if results were easier to interpret, and 35% would like assistance/advice in the interpretation of results. At initial investigation of a first-time stone former, 87% of respondents use serum chemistry, 48% use 24-hour urine, 26% use 48-hour urine (two consecutive 24-hour urine collections), 54% send stone for analysis, and 7% do not investigate. On recurrent stone formers, 69% use serum chemistry, 73% use 24/48-hour urine, and 23% send stone for analysis. On routine follow-up, 36% check serum chemistry, 55% use 24-hour urine, 2% use 48-hour urine, and 29% do not metabolically evaluate. The majority agree that pharmacologic therapy plays a strong role in preventing recurrence (90%). After initiating pharmacologic therapy, 59% reassess using serum chemistry and 84% and 7% use 24/48-hour urine collection, respectively. Physicians re-evaluate patients after 1 month (7%), 1-2 months (10%), 2-4 months (44%), 4-6 months (30%), or after 6-12 months (7%).

CONCLUSION

This snapshot assessment of Endourological Society members' practices in the metabolic investigation of stone-forming patients demonstrates wide testing variations. Many physicians expressed interest in assistance/advice in the interpretation of the metabolic assessment results.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns of recurrent urinary stones prevention in Saudi Arabia

The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns of urologists in Saudi Arabia regarding prevention of recurrent stone formation and how much they follow preventive stone disease management guidelines. A questionnaire about knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns of urologists in Saudi Arabia regarding prevention of recurrent stone formation was used. The survey comprised three domains: knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns. Data about gender, duration of experience and health care sector were also collected. Individual responses were recorded, tabulated and compared using descriptive statistics. The overall response rate was 38.8%. All respondents were male urologists. Most of them (62, 71.3%) had an experience of 5-20 years in management of stone disease patients and the majority (74, 85.1%) belonged to the governmental health care sector. A total of 51% of the respondents answered in concordance with the best practice guidelines in at least half of the questions and 40% in all of the questions. Overall, practice patterns of 58% of the respondents were in concordance with the best practice guidelines in all the questions except for the question of practices regarding stone analysis. As regards to attitude domain, a total of 58.7% respondents expressed their agreement or strong agreement with the questions. Urologists' knowledge of stone recurrence preventive programs is suboptimal. They do not apply effectively the best stone prevention practice guidelines in their daily practice as well. Efforts to increase knowledge and enforce its application in daily practice are strongly warranted.