Health Policy COE

How Mental Health Disorders Impact Treatment Decisions in Localized Prostate Cancer - Yaw Nyame & Joshua Cabral

Details
Ruchika Talwar hosts Joshua Cabral and Yaw Nyame to explore the impact of mental health disorders on prostate cancer care. Their study, "Inequities in Definitive Treatment for Localized Prostate Cancer Among Those With Clinically Significant Mental Health Disorders," used the Medicare database from 2004 to 2015. They found that 50% of US adults meet DSM-IV disorder criteria at some point, and ment...

Socioeconomic Disparities Drive Alarming Racial Gaps in Kidney Cancer Patient Survival Rates - Nirmish Singla

Details
Nirmish Singla presents research on socioeconomic determinants and racial disparities in renal cell carcinoma. Dr. Singla's study, published in Urologic Oncology, explores the complex interplay of biological, socioeconomic, and cultural factors influencing race-specific outcomes in healthcare. Focusing on African American and Caucasian patients with renal cell carcinoma, the study analyzes data fr...

Study Surveys Urologist and OBGYN Experiences of Inappropriate Patient Conduct - Catherine Nam

Details
Ruchika Talwar speaks with Catherine Nam about a study on patient-perpetrated sexual harassment in urology and OB-GYN. Dr. Nam explains that the study used an anonymous online survey to assess sexual harassment experiences among healthcare clinicians. The survey revealed that female urologists experience significantly higher rates of gender harassment and unwanted sexual attention compared to thei...

Retrospective Study Shows Anticholinergics and PDE5 Inhibitors Not Tied to Increased Dementia Risk in Prostate Cancer Patients - Avery Braun

Details
Ruchika Talwar hosts Avery Braun to discuss a study that investigates the relationship between anticholinergic medications and the onset of dementia in prostate cancer patients. Dr. Braun explains that the research focuses on men living decades after prostate cancer treatment, who often use PDE5 inhibitors or anticholinergics for erectile dysfunction or overactive bladder. The study, utilizing the...

Spouses Speak Up: The Impact of Mesh Sling Complications on the Patient’s Spouse – A Qualitative Analysis Study - Una Lee, Shreeya Popat & Jennifer Chyu

Details
Shreeya Popat, Jennifer Chyu, and Una Lee discuss the overlooked impact of mesh sling complications on the partners of urologic patients. Their research, focusing on women treated for stress urinary incontinence, reveals that about 5% suffer severe complications, such as chronic pain and mesh erosions, profoundly affecting their partners' lives. Interviews with spouses highlight three key themes:...

The Current and Future State of Telehealth in Urology - Juan Andino

Details
Juan Andino emphasizes the importance of telehealth in urology and broader medical practice. He highlights the patient benefits observed during the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as reduced travel time, cost savings, and increased access to specialty care. Dr. Andino notes the significant shift in physician perspectives, with a dramatic increase in telehealth adoption from 28% in 2019 to 8...

Social Media Interventions for Patients and Public: Opportunities and Challenges for the Urology Community - Nikita Bhatt

Details
Ruchika Talwar hosts Nikita Bhatt to discuss the integration of social media in urology. Dr. Bhatt, author of a European Urology paper, highlights the significant impact of social media interventions on health behavior, with an 83% increase in engagement and 89% positive influence on health outcomes. Dr. Bhatt emphasizes the untapped potential of these interventions in urology for issues like inco...

A Comprehensive Analysis of Female Urologists' Demographics, Practice Patterns, and Barriers: Insights from the 2022 SWIU Census - Lourdes Guerrios Rivera

Details
Ruchika Talwar welcomes Lourdes Guerrios to delve into data from the Society of Women in Urology's Census Information, an initiative by SWIU in July 2021. The census, conducted between February and May 2022, gathered responses from 379 female urologists in the US and its territories, revealing that 55% practice in academic settings. However, pay disparities persist, with female urologists earning...

Delving into the Realities of Travel, Treatment, and the Challenges Faced by Radical Cystectomy Patients in Maine - Randie White

Details
Ruchika Talwar introduces Randie White, who presents her team’s study titled "Distance to Treatment with Radical Cystectomy in a Rural State - Long Car Rides, Equivalent Outcomes," recently published in Urology Practice. The study examines the impact of travel distance on patient outcomes after undergoing radical cystectomy, a common treatment for non-metastatic muscle invasive bladder cancer. Dr....

Historical Versus Contemporary Practices: An In-Depth Analysis of Surgical Outcomes in Prostate Cancer - Udit Singhal

Details
Ruchika Talwar hosts Udit Singhal to discuss his team's research on patient-reported functional outcomes following prostatectomy. Dr. Singhal's study aims to compare outcomes in urinary incontinence and sexual function from historical and contemporary practices. Despite advancements in prostate cancer surgery, the study reveals no significant improvement in urinary incontinence. However, there is...