Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the commonest endocrine condition affecting women of reproductive age, often adversely impacting their quality of life. Delayed diagnosis and poor patient experience are common themes reported by affected women. Several factors contribute to poor clinical care including the lack of specialised multi-disciplinary clinics and poor clinician familiarity with the varied health needs of affected women. We aimed to identify patient priorities, clinician perspectives, and barriers to effective clinical care by surveying both women with PCOS and relevant clinicians in the UK.

Methods: We conducted two web-based, anonymous quantitative surveys, one aimed at women self-reporting a diagnosis of PCOS and one for clinicians in primary and secondary care settings involved in PCOS care provision. Surveys were disseminated via social media. We reported using natural frequencies and percentages and assessed data distribution using Chi-squared test and one-way ANOVA tests.

Results: We received responses from 47 women with PCOS and 33 clinicians including GPs (n=6, 18.2%), Endocrinologists (n=11, 33.3%), and Gynaecologists (n=15, 45.5%). Most participating women (n=34, 75.6%) reported that conversations regarding psychosocial symptoms never took place despite 53.2% (n=25) self-reporting mental health concerns. Only (n=1, 3%) of participating clinicians agreed that mental health was always covered as part of the consultation. Only 8.5% (n=4) of participating women reported satisfaction with care in contrast to (n=25, 75.8%) of clinicians reporting that patients’ priorities were always met in their care. Clinicians identified several barriers to providing optimal PCOS care including staff shortages (65.6%), time constraints in the clinic (59.4%), and lack of service availability (50%).

Conclusion: There is a systematic under-provision and appreciation of the health needs of women with PCOS in the UK. More clinician education and awareness are needed to optimise PCOS care provision, especially to offer holistic psychosocial and mental health support for affected women.