Adherence to agency for health care policy and research guidelines for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Purpose: We determined adherence rates to guideline recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia published and distributed by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research in 1994. Materials and Methods: Measures of care were developed based upon Agency for Health Care Policy and Research guideline recommendations approved by the Health Care Financing Administration and the American Urological Association (AUA). A random 4-state sample of 2,000 inpatient records with a principal diagnosis of hyperplasia of the prostate (ICD-9-CM code 600) and principal procedure code of 60.2 was selected by the Health Care Financing Administration and abstractions were performed. We assessed reliability and validity and determined results for each of the following measures of care: 1) documentation of indications for a transurethral resection of the prostate; 2) documentation of appropriate preoperative assessment; 3) documentation of indications for an inpatient excretory urogram (IVP) and/or sonogram when the procedures were performed and 4) documentation of surgical time and grams of tissue removed. Adherence rates for all measures of care were determined. Results: Of the 4-state sample of inpatient cases 1,828 cases met entry criteria for the study. Of the cases 93% had at least 1 symptom and/or score, and/or an anatomical abnormality documented before surgery. An AUA score was documented in the inpatient medical record in 7.5% of the cases. Recommendations for preoperative evaluation included urinalysis, a digital rectal exam and determination of preoperative creatinine. All of these were documented in 475 (26%) cases. Of the 1,828 cases 216 (12%) had an IVP or sonogram performed in the inpatient setting. In 36% indications were documented when sonograms were performed; 74% had documented indications when IVPs were performed. Excluding laser transurethral resections of the prostate, surgical time and tissue amounts were documented and recorded in 1,424 transurethral resections of the prostate cases (91%). Conclusions: Adherence to selected Agency for Health Care Policy and Research guideline recommendations is documented infrequently in the medical record.