Inpatient urology consultations: intervention rates, determinant factors, and findings related to the refugee population.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of intervention requirements in inpatient urology consultations and the clinical and demographic factors influencing these decisions.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed urology consultations over a one-year period at a large tertiary regional hospital. The timing and location of consultations, indications, procedures performed, and the need for intervention were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of intervention.

Results: A total of 1,977 consultations were identified. The most common reasons for consultation were hematuria (18.9%), male lower urinary tract symptoms (18.3%), and obstructive uropathy (14.3%). The majority of consultations originated from the emergency department (59.5%). Urologic interventions were performed in 52.5% of the patients, with the most frequent procedures being urethral catheterization (18.2%), bladder irrigation (7.9%), and suprapubic catheterization (3%). According to the univariate analysis, refugee patients had a significantly higher intervention rate (p = 0.046). In the multivariate analysis, factors independently associated with the need for intervention included consultations initiated from the emergency department, the level of seniority of the evaluating physician, and symptom-based consultation requests (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Inpatient urology consultations constitute a significant clinical workload, and a considerable proportion of those requiring intervention involve simple procedures that can be performed by nonurologist healthcare personnel. The high rate of noninterventional consultations reduces service efficiency. Improving triage systems and providing targeted training to healthcare staff may help alleviate this burden.