title: Evaluation and management of male lower urinary tract symptoms: treatment patterns and guidelines in a correlation study among Polish urology consultants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In March 2013, the European Association of Urology (EAU) released a new edition of the guidelines on management of male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including benign prostatic obstruction. The objective of this study was to evaluate how well the EAU guidelines have been implemented in day-to-day practice by Polish urologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured questionnaire, which explored how urologists diagnose and manage male lower urinary tract symptoms, was emailed to all certified, actively practicing urologists from a list provided by the Polish Urological Association.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire return rate was 33.7% (135/400). Overall, the median (quartile 1; quartile 3) frequency of correct answers was 65.0% (58.0%; 69.0%). Analysis of the association of availability and acceptance of the EAU guidelines with question answers showed no pattern. A multivariate regression model showed a positive correlation with regards to correct answers given in the survey and doctors' participation in international congresses (p = 0.018, r = 0.181). Basket analysis showed the strongest association for those who failed to correctly answer the questions regarding diagnosis of LUTS and overactive bladder (OAB) (support = 27.41%, confidence = 86.05%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there is a significant degree of adherence to the 2013 EAU guidelines, some discrepancies between urologists' practice and the recommendations regarding diagnosis and treatment of male LUTS do exist. The data obtained provide valuable benchmarks and also identify possible interventions that may improve the standard of care in this population of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Oncological and Functional Urology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Borkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Golabek
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Chlosta
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Oncological and Functional Urology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borkowski
keywords: management; prostate; prostatic hyperplasia