Survey on the Italian outpatient urologists regarding the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To verify the opinion of a group of Italian Outpatient Urologists in the matter of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) diagnosis and treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: A structured questionnaire was sent to 150 Italian Outpatient Urologists joined to the Unique Union of Italian outpatient Medicine (SUMAI) and working in public outpatient departments. The first section of the questionnaire investigated the Outpatient Urologists opinions concerning the BPH diagnostic approach. The second section of the questionnaire investigated the urologists' opinion on BPH therapeutic approaches. The majority of the urologist's that took part in the survey, believe that a first-line diagnosis of BPH, in accordance to the main guidelines, necessarily the patient's medical history, physical examination and total PSA dosage. A percentage of urologists (about 60%) always include the uroflowmetry and the pelvic ultrasound scan and about the 80% the urinalysis. With respect to the different therapeutic approaches for BPH patients with mild symptoms, the urologists suggest both the watchful waiting with changing in lifestyle and alpha-blockers therapy.