Level of agreement on postoperative complications after one-stage hypospadias correction comparing medical records and parent reports

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PURPOSE: To analyze agreement on postoperative complications after hypospadias surgery according to medical records and parents' reports. MATERIALS & METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, data were collected from 409 children who received an initial one-stage hypospadias correction in the Radboudumc, The Netherlands. Postoperative complications according to medical records were compared with parent-reported complications in an online questionnaire. Main complications studied were wound-related complications, urinary tract infections, fistulas, stenosis, and prepuce-related complications. Agreement was determined by Cohen's kappa coefficient. RESULTS: Slightly less complications were mentioned in medical records (37%) compared to parents' reports (42%). Overall agreement was moderate (kappa=0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI):0.41-0.59), but poor for some specific complications. Agreement was higher for complications that needed reoperation compared to when no reoperation was performed (kappa=0.53, 95% CI: 0.43-0.62 and kappa=0.18, 95% CI: 0.06-0.31) and for patients with recent surgery (<5years before questionnaire completion) compared to less recent surgeries (kappa=0.69, 95% CI: 0.55-0.84 and kappa=0.43, 95% CI: 0.33-0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Agreement on complications according to medical records and parents' reports was poor to moderate, but better after reoperation and more recent surgery. Some complications mentioned in medical records were missing from parents' reports and the other way around. Better agreement will give physicians and parents a more reliable view on postoperative outcome after hypospadias surgery. TYPE OF STUDY: Diagnostic test. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.