Associations among Physician–Patient Communication, Patient Satisfaction, and Clinical Effectiveness of Overactive Bladder Medication: A Survey of Patients with Overactive Bladder

This cross-sectional survey study evaluated associations between physician–patient communication and patient satisfaction with overactive bladder (OAB) medical care or clinical effectiveness. Japanese patients aged ≥50 years with OAB who had taken OAB medication within 2 years received a web-based survey regarding OAB medical care, physician–patient communication on OAB symptoms and treatment, and OAB symptom score (OABSS) change with treatment. Associations between physician–patient communication and patient satisfaction or OAB medication effectiveness (≥3-point improvement in OABSS) were investigated by multivariate analysis with confounding factors. Stratified analyses were performed based on medication continuation or discontinuation (for reasons except symptom improvement). Of the 1004 respondents included in the analyses, 58.0% continued treatment, and 23.7% discontinued for reasons except symptom improvement. Satisfaction with OAB care was associated with reported effectiveness, medication side effects, physician–patient communication, and whether medication was switched. Medication effectiveness was associated with patient–physician communication, female sex, and not switching medication. Significantly more patients in the continuation group were satisfied and had improvement of ≥3 points in OABSS (p < 0.001 for both). The findings suggest that, in Japan, adequate physician–patient communication contributes significantly to improving clinical effectiveness and satisfaction with medical care in OAB patients as well as treatment continuation.