Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26335495›Full record

ArticleUrology2015

Quality of Acute Care for Patients With Urinary Stones in the United States.

Charles D Scales, Jonathan Bergman, Stacey Carter, Gregory Jack, Christopher S Saigal, Mark S Litwin, NIDDK Urologic Diseases in America Project

Open access · greenAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Urology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Kidney stone disease Practice patterns among urologists in Canada.Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Editorial Comment.Urology · 2015
    Article
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Charles D ScalesRobert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, CA; Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA; Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA. Electronic address: Chuck.scales@duke.edu.
Jonathan BergmanRobert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, CA; Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA; Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA; Department of Family Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Stacey CarterDepartment of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Gregory JackDepartment of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Christopher S SaigalDepartment of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA; RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA.
Mark S LitwinDepartment of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA; RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA; Department of Health Policy & Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
NIDDK Urologic Diseases in America Project
University of California, Los Angeles · USRAND Corporation · USRobert Wood Johnson Foundation · US

Funding

NLM NIH HHS HHSN276201200016CPHS HHS HHSN276201200016C
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo describe guideline adherence for patients with suspected upper tract stones. PATIENTS AND

methodsWe performed a cross-sectional analysis of visits recorded by the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (emergency department [ED] component) in 2007-2010 (most recent data). We assessed adherence to clinical guidelines for diagnostic laboratory testing, imaging, and pharmacologic therapy. Multivariable regression models controlled for important covariates.

resultsAn estimated 4,956,444 ED visits for patients with suspected kidney stones occurred during the study period. Guideline adherence was highest for diagnostic imaging, with 3,122,229 (63%) visits providing optimal imaging. Complete guideline-based laboratory testing occurred in only 2 of every 5 visits. Pharmacologic therapy to facilitate stone passage was prescribed during only 17% of eligible visits. In multivariable analysis of guideline adherence, we found little variation by patient, provider, or facility characteristics.

conclusionGuideline-recommended care was absent from a substantial proportion of acute care visits for patients with suspected kidney stones. These failures of care delivery likely increase costs and temporary disability. Targeted interventions to improve guideline adherence should be designed and evaluated to improve care for patients with symptomatic kidney stones.

Indexed as

Quality of Health CareAdultAgedAge FactorsCross-Sectional StudiesDiagnostic ImagingEmergency Medical ServicesEmergency Service, HospitalFemaleGuideline AdherenceHealth Care SurveysHumansIncidenceLogistic ModelsMaleMiddle Aged

Identifiers

PMID26335495
PMCPMC5453307
OpenAlexW1530989516

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.