Organizational aspects of outpatient medical care for women with uterine leiomyoma

I n t r o d u c t i o n. The high prevalence and medical social signifi cance of benign uterine tumors, particularly uterine leiomyoma (UL), with a frequency reaching 70% in the structure of gynecological diseases, requires close attention in terms of the organization and provision of medical care, especially on an outpatient stage.

A i m. Based on the results of a survey of patients with UL and obstetrician- gynecologists of antenatal clinics, to evaluate the eff ectiveness of providing outpatient medical care for this group of patients and identify ways to optimize further work.

M a t e r i a l s a n d m e t h o d s . A survey of patients with LM (n = 100) which sought medical care at antenatal clinics in Yekaterinburg in the period 2023–2024 was conducted using the “Questionnaire on the analysis of satisfaction with the quality of outpatient medical services”, posted on the website of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, as well as 100 obstetrician-gynecologists from antenatal clinics (we used own questionnaire) on the organization and provision of outpatient medical care to women with UL

R e s u l t s . In general, 92% (n = 92) of patients with UL were satisfi ed with the quality of medical care. 72% (n = 72) of patients positively assessed the doctor’s consultation. Half of the patients noted the kindness, politeness and carefulness of the medical staff at the antenatal clinic, while the other half of the patients pointed out the lack of courtesy and carefulness of the staff . Other main problems identifi ed during the survey were the long wait for a doctor’s appointment, delayed start of an appointment, non-adherence to clinical recommendations, and insuffi ciently comfortable conditions at the antenatal clinic. However, the majority of respondents (62% (n = 62)) were satisfi ed with the methods of examination, treatment, and outpatient follow-up. All the obstetrician-gynecologists consider it necessary to increase the availability of ultrasound (US) examinations for gynecological patients; 30% (n = 30) indicated non-adherence to doctor’s prescriptions; 15% (n = 15) of doctors noted diffi culties in interpreting US results due to the heterogeneity of data in examination records.

C o n c l u s i o n. Aspects identifi ed during the study that require improvement (convenience in arranging an obstetrician and gynecologist’s appointment; the start of a doctor’s appointment in a timely manner; convenience of waiting conditions for a doctor’s appointment; kindness and politeness of medical staff ) will help to optimize the delivery of outpatient care to women with UL, which will contribute to a high adherence to follow-up and timely treatment, and, thus, to the maintenance of fertility and improvement of quality of life.

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