ISSN 2756-3855
International Journal of Urology and Nephrology ISSN 2091-1254 Vol. 5 (5), pp. 168-184, May, 2017. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Understanding patient and physician perceptions of benign prostatic hyperplasia in Japanese men: The Prostate Research on Behaviour and Education (PROBE) II survey
1Satoru Takahashi, 2Yukiko Shima, 3Winston Wong, and 4Juan-Manuel Palacios-Moreno*
1Department of Urology, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan; 2GlaxoSmithKline, Tokyo, Japan; 3Ipsos Healthcare, London, UK, 4GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain.
*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +34 918070858, Fax: +44 (0) 161 445 0658
Accepted 30 May, 2017
Abstract
Objectives: To assess attitudes and beliefs towards benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and its treatment among Japanese patients and physicians. Methods: The Prostate Research on Behaviour and Education II quantitative survey used questionnaires to assess perceptions of 200 men with BPH/LUTS receiving drug treatment and 30 physicians treating BPH/LUTS. Results: One-quarter of patients reported not being adequately informed about BPH. Over 30% of patients did not consult, or delayed consulting, a physician when faced with initial symptoms. There was a disconnect between patients and physicians in the reasons for delayed consultation: 80% of physicians thought it was because men believed it was due to ageing, whereas only 39% of patients cited this reason. Moreover, physicians were generally less likely than patients to rate symptoms as severe at first presentation. Regarding progression, 70% of patients had never discussed surgery or acute urinary retention with their physician. Importantly, 33% of physicians reported tending not to take prevention of progression into account when deciding treatment. Conclusions: Areas of discordance exist between Japanese patients’ and physicians’ perceptions about BPH/LUTS, highlighting a need to proactively raise awareness to improve timely differential diagnosis and appropriate treatment, taking account of patients’ needs and preferences.
Keywords: Benign prostatic hyperplasia, lower urinary tract symptoms, Japan, patients, perceptions, physicians.