Standardized measures enable the comparison of outcomes across providers and treatments giving valuable information for improving care quality and efficacy. The aim of this project was to define a minimum standard set of outcome measures and case-mix factors for evaluating the care of patients with overactive bladder (OAB).
The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) convened an international working group (WG) of leading clinicians and patients to engage in a structured method for developing a core outcome set. Consensus was determined by a modified Delphi process, and discussions were supported by both literature review and patient input.
The standard set measures outcomes of care for adults seeking treatment for OAB, excluding residents of long-term care facilities. The WG focused on treatment outcomes identified as most important key outcome domains to patients: symptom burden and bother, physical functioning, emotional health, impact of symptoms and treatment on quality of life, and success of treatment. Demographic information and case-mix factors that may affect these outcomes were also included.
The standardized outcome set for evaluating clinical care is appropriate for use by all health providers caring for patients with OAB, regardless of specialty or geographic location, and provides key data for quality improvement activities and research.
International urogynecology journal. 2017 Sep 25 [Epub ahead of print]
Caroline Foust-Wright, Stephanie Wissig, Caleb Stowell, Elizabeth Olson, Anita Anderson, Jennifer Anger, Linda Cardozo, Nikki Cotterill, Elizabeth Ann Gormley, Philip Toozs-Hobson, John Heesakkers, Peter Herbison, Kate Moore, Jessica McKinney, Abraham Morse, Samantha Pulliam, George Szonyi, Adrian Wagg, Ian Milsom
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA., International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement, Cambridge, MA, USA., Department of Urologic Reconstruction, Urodynamics, and Female Urology, Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Urogynaecology, King's College Hospital, London, UK., Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK., Section of Urology, Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA., Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK., Department of Urology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands., Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand., Department of Urogynaecology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia., Center for Pelvic and Women's Health, Marathon Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, LLC, Norton, MA, USA., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China., Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA., Department of Geriatric Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia., Geriatric Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada., Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-416 85, Gothenburg, Sweden. .