Variation in the intensity of hematuria evaluation: a target for primary care quality improvement.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hematuria is a common clinical finding and represents the most frequent presenting sign of bladder cancer. The American Urological Association recommends cystoscopy and abdomino-pelvic imaging for patients aged more than 35 years. Nonetheless, less than half of patients presenting with hematuria undergo proper evaluation. We sought to identify clinical and nonclinical factors associated with evaluation of persons with newly diagnosed hematuria.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study, using claims data and laboratory values. The primary exposure was practice site, as a surrogate for nonclinical, potentially modifiable sources of variation. Primary outcomes were cystoscopy or abdomino-pelvic imaging within 180 days after hematuria diagnosis. We modeled th

SUBMITTER: Friedlander DF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4074456 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature