Use of a Computerized Decisional Analysis Tool in Patients With Urgency Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

Importance: Decision analysis tools (DAT) are shared decision making instruments that include patient input on treatment goals and values that have been shown to decrease decisional regret in women's health care.

Objective: We describe a novel, computerized DAT for patients with urinary incontinence (UI), and our primary aim was to assess the concordance between treatment fit as determined by the DAT and treatment selected after physician counseling in patients with urgency urinary incontinence and urgency predominant mixed urinary incontinence.

Study design: We partnered with a health care startup to develop a computerized DAT incorporating evidence about UI and patient input about treatment goals and personal values. This is a retrospective cohort study examining the concordance of DAT-predicted treatments identified before consultation with the physician and those chosen after counseling. Electronic medical records were reviewed to abstract demographic, clinical data, and treatments chosen at the initial physician consultation. Because it was possible to pursue concurrent treatment options (ie, pelvic floor physical therapy and medications), the first 2 modalities identified in the treatment plan at consultation were abstracted. Descriptive statistics were conducted using SPSS®, we did not adjust for multiple comparisons.

Results: Four hundred eighty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria for our study, and 65% of the cohort chose treatment options after counseling that were concordant with their DAT best treatment fit.

Conclusion: Patients choosing treatment for urgency urinary incontinence and urgency predominant mixed urinary incontinence using a novel, computer-based DAT to prepare for shared decision making with their physicians often choose to proceed with their top DAT-determined treatment fit after counseling.