Caden Cluff
Several Factors of Referring providers are Associated with Unnecessary Imaging and Referral Patterns for Undescended Testes
Mentor: Chad Wallis, MD
Department: Urology
Objective
In this study, we aim to evaluate if the urban-rural setting of the referring provider has any effect on appropriate referral patterns in boys with cryptorchidism.
Study Design
This single-center retrospective study reviewed the patient and referring provider characteristics for those pediatric males who underwent orchidopexy for cryptorchidism from March February 2021. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistics regression models were used to identify any association of urban-rural status or miles from tertiary center of referring providers on inappropriate pre-referral imaging and late referral timing to surgical provider.
Results
Of the 343 boys included, 92 (26.8%) underwent pre-referral imaging and 188 (55%) were referred late. On multivariate analysis those referring providers in the medium metropolitan counties were associated with higher rates of inappropriate imaging (p = 0.006; OR: 2.463 95% CI: 1.302-4.656) and those with increasing years in practice were found to be associated with increasing association of being referred late (p = 0.02; OR: 1.032 95% CI: 1.005-1.06).
Conclusion
Despite recommendations, there continues to be a high number of unnecessary imaging and late referrals for cryptorchidism. Our future efforts will be in implementing educational opportunities for referring providers to help improve the quality of care to these boys.
