Assessing Risk of Nephrolithiasis in Urology Residents: Are We Practicing What We Preach?

Purpose Nephrolithiasis is a common urological condition that is treated by urologists. Urologists counsel patients on the importance of adequate hydration to decrease the risk of nephrolithiasis as well as the avoidance of specific diets that can contribute to the condition. To date, the risk of urology resident physicians developing nephrolithiasis during their residency has not been studied. This study aimed to investigate nephrolithiasis in urology residents and factors that may contribute to their potential protection or increased susceptibility to this pathology. Based on self-reported water intake, most respondents reported fluid consumption below commonly cited hydration targets, though guideline awareness and adherence were not directly assessed. Previous studies have examined residents' satisfaction with their programs, but none have investigated the occurrence of kidney stones among residents. Materials and methods Through a nationally distributed survey of current urology residents, this pilot study aimed to address these questions by examining variables such as caffeine consumption, PGY year, family history of kidney stones, personal history of kidney stones, and life satisfaction. Results The results indicated that as urology residents' PGY level increased, their water intake decreased. In addition, life satisfaction increased as PGY increased. Conclusion Future research on this topic will aim to expand the study cohort to include attending physicians at a later stage in their careers to compare attitudes and actions that may contribute to the occurrence of nephrolithiasis.