Accurate Documentation Contributes to Guideline-concordant Surveillance of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: a Multi-site VA Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine if accurate documentation of bladder cancer risk was associated with a clinician surveillance recommendation that is concordant with AUA guidelines among patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Methods: We prospectively collected data from cystoscopy encounter notes from four Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sites to ascertain whether they included accurate documentation of bladder cancer risk and a recommendation for a guideline-concordant surveillance interval. Accurate documentation was a clinician-recorded risk classification matching a gold standard assigned by the research team. Clinician recommendations were guideline-concordant if the clinician recorded a surveillance interval that was in line with the AUA guideline.

Results: Among 296 encounters, 75 were for low-, 98 for intermediate-, and 123 for high-risk NMIBC. 52% of encounters had accurate documentation of NMIBC risk. Accurate documentation of risk was less common among encounters for low-risk bladder cancer (36% vs 52% for intermediate- and 62% for high-risk, P < .05). Guideline-concordant surveillance recommendations were also less common in patients with low-risk bladder cancer (67% vs 89% for intermediate- and 94% for high-risk, P < .05). Accurate documentation was associated with a 29% and 15% increase in guideline-concordant surveillance recommendations for low- and intermediate-risk disease, respectively (P < .05).

Conclusion: Accurate risk documentation was associated with more guideline-concordant surveillance recommendations among low- and intermediate-risk patients. Implementation strategies facilitating assessment and documentation of risk may be useful to reduce overuse of surveillance in this group and to prevent unnecessary cost, anxiety, and procedural harms.