#1170

Urology Nurse Practitioner led Clinics in Regional areas

L. Chong¹

¹Ipswich Hospital, Ipswich, Australia

Introduction:

Urology nurse-led outpatient clinics play a critical role in delivering specialized care in regional areas where access to urologists is limited. These clinics effectively manage acute urological conditions such as first presentation renal colic/stones, and chronic urological conditions such as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), urinary incontinence, and bladder cancer surveillance. Recent evidence suggests that nurse-led models improve patient outcomes by reducing wait times, enhancing adherence to treatment plans, and minimizing the burden on consultant-led services. Expanding these services is essential to addressing healthcare disparities in underserved populations.

Material and methods:

A systematic review of the literature from Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Google Scholar was conducted to assess the effectiveness of urology nurse-led clinics in regional settings. This included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and qualitative research focusing on patient outcomes, clinic efficiency, and patient satisfaction. A prospective study is being done at Ipswich Hospital to see how wait times are reduced for patients to obtain Urology advice and investigations, and the reduction in wait time for patients.

Results:

Data from 15 studies highlighted that urology nurse-led clinics significantly reduced wait times by 30-40%, with patient satisfaction rates exceeding 90% (Smith et al., 2020; PubMed). Findings from the Tallaght University Hospital pilot study demonstrated that 58 male LUTS patients were assessed over 6 months, with 52% discharged with lifestyle modifications and medical therapy, while 48% required further investigations. The ProtecT trial highlighted that nurse-led models of active surveillance for men with localized prostate cancer were well-received by both patients and clinical staff, improving continuity of care and reducing workload for urologists (Lane et al., 2014).