The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a challenge for physicians in triaging patients in emergency rooms. We found a potentially dangerous overlap of classical urinary symptoms and the as yet not fully described symptoms of COVID-19. After a patient was primarily triaged as a urosepsis case and then subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19, we focused on an increase in urinary frequency as a symptom of COVID-19 and identified this in seven males out of 57 patients currently being treated in our COVID-19 wards. In the absence of any other causes, urinary frequency may be secondary to viral cystitis due to underlying COVID-19 disease. We propose consideration of urinary frequency as an anamnestic tool in patients with infective symptoms to increase awareness among urologists during the current COVID-19 pandemic to prevent fatal implications of misinterpreting urological symptoms.
<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> To assess anxiety, stress level, and perception of safety during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in health care workers (HCWs) of one of Germany’s largest urology university clinics. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A cross-sectional study among urological HCWs was performed. HCWs were surveyed for anxiety about the pandemic, stress level and current workload, fear of coronavirus infection, current perception of safety at work, and attitude towards protective equipment and tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Sixty-three HCWs filled in the questionnaire. Overall anxiety of infection with COVID-19 is at a median of 4.7 with no statistically significant difference between nurses and physicians (<i>p</i> = 0.0749). Safety at work reaches a median of 6 out of 10. In fact, the highest fear in 56.7% (31/63) of the personnel is to get infected by a colleague tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 despite wearing surgical face masks. A proportion of 55.7 and 74.6% highly favor swabs for SARS-CoV-2 on a regular basis in HCWs and patients, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.0001). Workload in the urology department is clearly reduced during the pandemic (physicians 39.3% vs. nurses 32.2%, <i>p</i> = 0.0001) and 57.4% do not feel distress at all; only 27.9% express mental distress. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> During the pandemic, urology HCWs perceive lower burden by workload and deem themselves at low risk of infection. However, the greatest anxiety is related to infection by a SARS-CoV-2-positive colleague, despite reciprocal protection by surgical face masks. This highlights a relevant mental stress and uncertainty towards management of infected HCWs, calling for increased education and psychological support.
BACKGROUND Pelvic floor training (PFT) is the gold standard for conservative treatment of male stress urinary incontinence. OBJECTIVE To evaluate patients´ perspective at risk of incontinence on PFT and application of digital technologies for PFT. METHODS Patients undergoing transurethral surgery of the prostate (group I), radical prostatectomy (group II) or treatment at a specialized incontinence outpatient clinic (group III) were surveyed anonymously. Chi-Square test and Kruskal-Wallis-analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS 180 patients were included in the final analysis. In group I (n=35) no patient underwent PFT prior to transurethral surgery. 23.5% of patients in group II (n=51) and 95.7% of patients in group III (n=94) performed PFT. 11.4% in group I, 80.4% in group II and 91.5% in group III have been advised to perform PFT by their urologist. Regarding the information level on PFT, patients from group I (median 1, range 0-5) are less satisfied than patients from group II (median 3, 0-9) or group III (median 5, range 0-10, p<0.001). 88.6% of patients from group I are willing to perform PFT as preventive treatment or to avoid incontinence surgery, 100% from group II and 68.4% from group III (p<0.001). The likelihood to use digital PFT is higher in group I (median: 9, range 0-10) and II (median: 9, range 0-10) than in group III (median: 4, range 0-10, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients at risk of incontinence currently have limited access to PFT, although they are willing to perform PFT. Digital PFT is highly accepted by patients preoperatively and might be a valuable tool to increase PFT participation.
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