title: Patient perception of transvaginal mesh and the media.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the penetration of media-based information on transvaginal mesh (TVM) in our patient population and to determine whether exposure affects patient opinion. Since the 2011 Federal Drug Administration communication on TVM, many advertisements from legal practices have been directed toward patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 18-item survey was administered to female patients at 2 sites from August 2012 to April 2013. Patients presenting with new diagnoses of pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence or patients who reported prior mesh surgery were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-nine questionnaires were completed. Sixty-six of the patients (67%) were aware of TVM; and of these, 38 (58%) cited advertisements as the initial source of information. Only 12% were aware of the Food and Drug Administration's communication. Regarding opinion of TVM, 9% chose "it is a safe product," 9% "safety depends on factors related to patient," 4.5% "not a safe product," 1.5% "safety depends on the doctor," 68% "I don't know," and 4.5% marked 2 selections. Only 12% indicated knowing the difference in the use of TVM for pelvic organ prolapse vs stress urinary incontinence. When asked what influenced their opinion of TVM the most; responses were as follows: advertisement (33.3%), medical professional (22.7%), friends or family who underwent TVM procedure (12.1%), media article (6.1%), and "not sure" (25.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advertisements of TVM lawsuits had a high penetration into our patient population but did not produce an overtly negative response in our sample. Clinicians should be aware of the impact of these advertisements on patient opinion and counsel patients accordingly with unbiased and scientifically accurate information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Electronic address: mkoski82@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Michelle Elaine
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Koski
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
authors.forename: Melissa R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Jack C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Winters
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Rovner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011639:Public Opinion; D053825:Suburethral Slings; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*