(Poster 71) Prospective Study on Electronic Patient Reported Outcomes in POP Surgery

Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability to patients and staff, as well as the potential impact on clinician-patient communication, of implementing a systematic standardized electronic patient-reported outcomes (PRO) evaluation for women with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) undergoing surgical management.

Methods: This pre/post pilot study included two independent samples of women undergoing pelvic floor surgery: one prior to and one following the implementation of electronic patient-reported outcomes (PROs). In phase 1 (pre-implementation), participants completed the Primary Care Assessment Survey (PCAS) Clinician-Patient Communication subscale at 6-week and 6-month follow-ups. In phase 2 (post-implementation), electronic PROs were introduced at baseline, 6 weeks, and 6 months, including the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire: PFIQ-7, with results shared with clinicians before appointments. Patients in phase 2 also completed questionnaires to evaluate the impact of PRO use on clinician-patient communication and the perceived feasibility and acceptability of PRO measures. Staff involved in PRO implementation completed feasibility and acceptability questionnaires.

Results: Three providers participated. 133 patients were eligible, out of which 112 were approached for the study. In phase 1, 58 women were identified, 41 patients were consented for the study, 37 completed baseline evaluation and 27 completed the 6 weeks and 6 months follow up evaluations. In phase 2, 56 women were identified, 30 were consented, 29 completed the baseline and 6 week follow up evaluations and 28 completed the 6 months follow up evaluation. Mean age of participant was 64.9 (14.12) in phase 1 and 62.2 (11.4) in phase 2. 74% of women in phase 1 and 76% of women in phase 2 were menopausal. 13 (41.9%) women in phase 1 and 11 (38%) women in phase 2 underwent surgery for POP only, 13 (42%) women in phase 1 and 15 (51.7%) women in phase 2 underwent surgery for POP and SUI, 2 patients in each group underwent surgery for SUI only.
Clinician-patient communication, assessed using the Primary Care Assessment Survey (PCAS) communication subscale at six months postoperatively was 87.8 (14.2) in phase 1 and 86.9 (22.2) in phase 2 (p value = 0.878). Most patients found the electronic PROs easy or very easy to use (18; 81.9%).

Conclusions: Implementation of electronic PRO perioperatively among patients undergoing surgery for pelvic floor disorders did not improve patient-physician communication. Larger studies are needed to better understand how use of PROs could be helpful among this population.