Practice Trends in the Diagnosis and Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in the United States

Purpose: The American Urological Association (AUA) first commissioned the Gallup Organization of Princeton, New Jersey to conduct a study to assess urologists' practice patterns in 1992. Materials and Methods: In August 1994 a random sample of 514 American urologists was surveyed by the Gallup Organization regarding practice patterns for the diagnosis and management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It asked questions regarding the practice patterns of respondents in their diagnosis and management of BPH. Results: The survey revealed that 99 percent of the respondents were aware of and used the AUA symptom score index, and that 21 percent of these respondents had altered their diagnosis and management strategies because of its existence. Conclusions: Therapeutic recommendations of the respondents based upon AUA symptom score index severity parallel the recently announced federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research BPH practice guidelines.