Verbal Versus Structured Education Impact on Anxiety and Satisfaction During Uroflowmetry: A RCT

BACKGROUND: Uroflowmetry (UFM) is a simple and widely used first-line investigation for evaluating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Despite its non-invasive nature, uroflowmetry can provoke anxiety and affect satisfaction, often due to a lack of understanding about the procedure. OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effects of structured versus verbal education on alleviating anxiety and assessing patient satisfaction in those undergoing UFM. METHODOLOGY: A single-blind, parallel-arm study was conducted with 148 patients who were randomly assigned to either a structured teaching (brochure) group or a verbal counseling group. The modified Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS-M) was used to assess anxiety, while satisfaction was measured using a validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and independent t-tests were employed for data analysis. RESULTS: The structured education group demonstrated statistically insignificant overall anxiety score in both groups 10.6 ± 1.23 versus 9.61 ± 1.4 (p = 0.49) in verbally counseled versus structured education group respectively, but individual components have significant differences like worry scores (2.87 ± 0.135) in structured education group compared to the verbal education group (3.49 ± 0.142; p = 0.028), and fewer thoughts (2.90 ± 0.150) versus the verbal education group (3.25 ± 0.155; p = 0.044). Satisfaction scores showed that the structured group had a higher satisfaction to the knowledge provided (1.21 ± 0.04 vs. 1.08 ± 0.036, p = 0.035) and ease of using UFM equipment (4.51 ± 0.11 vs. 4.05 ± 0.118, p = 0.047), more satisfied with aspects related to privacy (4.68 ± 0.112 vs. 4.20 ± 0.115, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Structured education significantly improved patient understanding, comfort, and expectations regarding privacy, while reducing anxiety compared to verbal counseling. Integrating structured education before uroflowmetry could further enhance the patient experience and satisfaction.