Opportunities to improve the care of individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome in Canada

OBJECTIVE: To examine gaps in the care of people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Canada from a patient perspective and identify opportunities for improvement. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies, randomized controlled trials, mixed-methods studies, cross-sectional studies, and qualitative studies were included that examined the experiences of patients with PCOS in Canada. SYNTHESIS: Screening of titles and abstracts was performed independently by 2 reviewers, with conflicts resolved by a third blinded reviewer. Full-text screening was completed by 4 reviewers. A total of 2098 citations were identified using a broad search strategy and 9 studies met inclusion criteria. Information on the care experience of patients with PCOS was extracted and synthesized using a Knowledge-to-Action framework. Three main themes emerged: 1) there is opportunity to address delays in PCOS diagnosis and provide clearer treatment recommendations to patients; 2) there is a need to address the psychological impacts of PCOS; and 3) there may be opportunities to improve the clinical care experiences of people with PCOS. CONCLUSION: The authors propose that expedited diagnosis of PCOS, attending to patients' mental health needs, personalized lifestyle modifications and education, and strategies to promote positive patient experiences may help to improve PCOS care.