Open Access

ARTICLE

Men prefer pre-vasectomy consultation by telephone: a survey of vasectomized men

Happy Tahirih Kampire¹, Jonathan Cloutier^1,2,3, Michel Dallaire², Simon Plourde², Michel Labrecque^1,2,4

1 Research Center, CHU de Québec–Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
2 Vasectomie Quebec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
3 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
4 Department of Family and Emergency, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Address correspondence to Happy Tahirih Kampire, 2085 rue de Grandville, Quebec City, QC G1J 1V8 Canada

Canadian Journal of Urology 2022, 29(5), 11307-11311.

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic teleconsultation was allowed as an insured service in the province of Quebec, Canada. We assessed the preferences of vasectomized patients for a pre-vasectomy consultation conducted in-person or by telephone.
Materials and methods: In September 2021, we sought the participation of 214 men who had their pre-vasectomy consultation over the phone to complete an anonymous three-item survey on their preferred modality for pre-vasectomy consultation. They completed their questionnaire in the waiting room of the vasectomy clinic just after the surgical procedure. We calculated the proportion and 95% confidence interval [CI] of patients preferring each modality. We assessed the difference in preference according to the distance between hometown and vasectomy clinic (< 25 km, 25-50 km, and > 50 km) with Fisher’s exact test.
Results: Participation rate was 98% (n = 209/214). Most patients would have preferred telephone over in-person pre-vasectomy consultation if they had been given a choice (96%; 95% CI 92% to 98%), if they had had to recommend a modality to a friend (95%; 95% CI 91% to 98%), and if they had had to do a pre-vasectomy consultation again (prefer or no preference; total 97%; 95% CI 94% to 99%). Distance between hometown and vasectomy clinic did not significantly influence their preferences (p > 0.29 for each of the three items).
Conclusions: Vasectomized men preferred having pre-vasectomy consultation by telephone instead of in person. If maintained as an insured service after the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian physicians offering vasectomy services should consider making this service available to their patients.

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