title: Influence of patient education on morbidity caused by ureteral stents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of patient education on symptoms and problems caused by ureteral stents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The German version of the Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire was completed by 74 patients with unilateral inserted indwelling stents. Additionally, six self-developed questions regarding type and quality of patient education on pain, urinary symptoms, hematuria, activities permitted, stent function and overall patient education were answered. Correlations between questionnaires, subscores and single items, and the influence on economic aspects were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adjusting for age, sex, intravesical stent length, stent indwelling time, use of analgesics and an alpha-blocker, the correlation between the Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire and self-developed questions was -0.40 (95% CI -0.58, -0.19, P < 0.001). The following subscores and items showed a statistically significant correlation with quality of patient education after correction for multiple testing: Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire total score, urinary symptoms subscore, U6, U10, G3, G4 and GQ. No relevant influence of patient education on economic aspects was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-quality patient education on ureteral stent-related symptoms is highly advisable, as it has the potential to reduce these symptoms. However, the influence of information on the incidence and extent of potential problems seems to be limited. A much better approach would be to develop better designed devices and more convenient stent-free procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abt
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Warzinek
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials Unit, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sarah Roberta
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Haile
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel Stephan
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Engeler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D010146:Pain; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire; morbidity; patient education; symptoms; ureteral catheterization