Outcome analysis of ultrasound‐guided prostate biopsy procedure: a retrospective audit comparing associate consultant and nurse specialist in urology to determine the effectiveness and safety of a nurse‐led prostate biopsy clinic

Abstract

The incidence of prostate cancer continues to rise and is now the most common cancer in men in Wales and in the UK (Cancer Research UK, 2010). More men are being referred via the urgent suspected cancer (USC) pathway for further investigations than ever before. Pressure on urology departments from government targets and cancer waiting times has led to the need to find pioneering ways to meet these demands, while maintaining high standards of care. This article presents a retrospective audit that compared the practice of a nurse specialist to a urologist while undertaking transrectal ultrasound with prostatic biopsies, the definitive investigation in the detection of prostate cancer. Results have shown that the nurse‐led service is equivalent to that of the urologist in cancer detection and morbidity rates. The audit has shown that the nurse‐led prostate biopsy clinic is both effective and safe in practice. In addition, the service has reduced the waiting times for patients needing this procedure to less than a week.