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Patients’ perceptions of quality of care delivery by urology residents: A nationwide study

Mantica G, Chierigo F, Gallo F, Cocci A, Esperto F, Patruno G, Diminutto A, Cerasuolo M, Campi R, Barale M, Ragonese M, Bettin L, Zanetti S, Bianchi L, Principi E, Puliatti S, Cancrini F, Parnanzini D, Bianchi G, Grande P, Primiceri G, Cavacece F, Schiralli P, Amparore D, Farullo G, Di Mauro M, Durante J, Baldesi R, Carobbio F, Russo GI, Luperto E, La Rocca R, Cacciamani GE; Italian Residents Association of the Italian Urology Association Study Group.

Abstract

Objective: To present the results of a nationwide survey among urological patients to evaluate their perception of the quality of care provided by residents.

Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed to patients who were referred to 22 Italian academic institutions. The survey aimed to investigate the professional figure of the urology resident as perceived by the patient.

Results: A total of 2587 patients were enrolled in this study. In all, 51.6% of patients were able to correctly identify a urology resident; however, almost 40% of respondents discriminated residents from fully trained urologists based exclusively on their young age. Overall, 98.2% patients rated the service provided by the resident as at least sufficient. Urology trainees were considered by more than 50% of the patients interviewed to have good communication skills, expertise and willingness. Overall, patients showed an excellent willingness to be managed by urology residents. The percentage of patients not available for this purpose showed an increasing trend that directly correlated with the difficulty of the procedure. Approximately 5-10% of patients were not willing to be managed by residents for simple procedures such as clinical visits, cystoscopy or sonography, and up to a third of patients were not prepared to undergo any surgical procedure performed by residents during steps in major surgery, even if the residents were adequately tutored.

Conclusions: Our data showed that patients have a good willingness to be managed by residents during their training, especially for medium- to low-difficulty procedures. Furthermore, the majority of patients interviewed rated the residents’ care delivery as sufficient. Urology trainees were considered to have good communication skills, expertise and willingness.

Keywords: #Urology; patient’s perspective; survey; urological education; urology residents.

© 2022 The Authors. BJU International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of BJU International.

Stefano Puliatti

Stefano Puliatti

Il Dr. Puliatti si è laureato in Medicina e chirurgia nel 2012 presso l’Università degli Studi di Modena ed ha poi conseguito il titolo di specialista in Urologia con il massimo dei voti presso lo stesso Ateneo. Da Luglio 2019 ricopre il ruolo di Assistant Professor in Urologia presso l'Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia. Da Luglio 2019 ricopre anche il ruolo di Deputy Medical Director of ORSI Academy, Melle, Belgio e svolge attività clinica e chirurgica presso OLV (Onze Lieve Vrouwziekenhuis) Hospital in Aalst, Belgio (direttore: Prof. Alex Mottrie). La sua formazione si è incentrata in particolare sulla Chirurgia robotica e oncologica delle vie urinarie, avendo come principali campi di applicazione anche tumori e malattie della prostata, tumori del rene e delle alte vie urinarie, disturbi minzionali, calcolosi delle vie urinarie. È inoltre autore e coautore di articoli scientifici e capitoli di libro in ambito urologico. Attualmente svolge attività in libera professione presso diverse strutture situate a Modena e Provincia.