How to Choose a Urologist in Bursa, Turkey: What to Look For

For many people facing a problem such as a kidney stone, an enlarged prostate or a raised PSA, the first question is “Which doctor should I see?” If you are travelling to Bursa from abroad or from another Turkish city, the choice can feel even harder: search engines turn up a long list of names and reviews that can make the decision more confusing rather than easier. In this article we have gathered concrete, neutral criteria you can ask yourself about when deciding which doctor to see, in the form of a checklist.

What does a urologist do, and when should you see one?

A urologist diagnoses and treats diseases of the urinary tract, which is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra, and of the male reproductive organs, such as the prostate, testicles and penis. Kidney stones, blood in the urine, frequent urination, urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections, an enlarged prostate, urological cancers, erection problems and male infertility are the most common reasons for a visit. Women and children are also among the patients urologists see.

Urology is itself divided into sub-areas: the main ones are stone disease and endoscopic surgery, uro-oncology (urological cancers), andrology (male sexual health and infertility), paediatric urology and functional urology (urinary incontinence and bladder problems). This distinction is useful when weighing up the criteria below.

How should you look at a urologist’s specialist training?

In Turkey, becoming a urologist requires completing around five years of specialist training after medical school. Which medical school the doctor graduated from, and at which institution and in which years they completed specialist training, is usually listed on the doctor’s own website or on the hospital’s doctor profile.

Titles also tell you something. In Turkey, “Op. Dr.” (short for Operatör Doktor) indicates a doctor who has completed specialist training in a surgical field, while “Doç. Dr.” (associate professor) and “Prof. Dr.” (professor) indicate stages of an academic career. A title helps you understand the doctor’s training and career path; beyond that, it is also reasonable to ask how regularly the doctor works with problems like yours.

Why do the doctor’s areas of focus and the procedures they perform matter?

Every urologist is familiar with all the core urological conditions; however, it is normal for doctors to work more intensively in certain areas over time. The answers to these questions can therefore guide you:

• Does the doctor regularly see patients with a problem like yours?
• Do they perform the recommended treatment (for example laser stone surgery, prostate surgery or a biopsy) themselves?
• Are you offered only one method, or are the options explained together with their advantages and disadvantages?

For example, depending on the size and location of a kidney stone, there are different options such as monitoring, medication, shock wave lithotripsy, RIRS or PCNL. Having the options explained to you clearly is a precondition for making the right decision together.

What do scientific publications, congresses and society memberships tell you?

Studies published in national and international journals, attendance at congresses and membership of professional societies give an idea of whether the doctor keeps up with developments in the field. Organisations such as the European Association of Urology (EAU) and the Turkish Urological Association regularly publish guidelines; it is important that treatment is planned in line with these current guidelines.

That said, the number of publications is not a criterion on its own. This information becomes meaningful when considered together with the other points.

Why do the facilities of the doctor’s hospital matter?

In urological diagnosis and treatment, the hospital’s infrastructure matters as well as the doctor:

• Imaging facilities such as ultrasound, CT and MRI
• The equipment needed for endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery
• Intensive care and anaesthesia support
• The possibility of multidisciplinary work with departments such as pathology, oncology, radiology and nephrology

Guidelines recommend that decisions, particularly in cancer treatment, are discussed at meetings attended by doctors from different specialties. You can ask whether the hospital has this kind of joint working arrangement.

How can I assess the doctor’s communication and the way they inform me?

The first consultation is a good opportunity to assess how you communicate with the doctor. You can ask yourself the following questions:

• Was enough time set aside to listen to my complaints?
• Were the diagnosis, the treatment options, the possible risks and what would happen without treatment explained in a way I could understand?
• Were my questions answered patiently?
• Was I given time to make a decision?

If you come across medical terms, our urology glossary can help you understand the concepts you hear during the consultation.

Do I have the right to a second opinion?

Yes. Under patient rights, you can ask for copies of your test results and reports and get the opinion of another specialist. Getting a second opinion before surgery, cancer treatment or decisions that are difficult to reverse is normal, and your doctor can be expected to accept this as natural. If you live in another city or another country, it is also possible to send your reports in advance and ask for a preliminary assessment.

How should I check insurance and hospital agreements?

Before an examination or treatment, finding out whether the hospital you plan to go to has an agreement with SGK (Turkey’s state social security institution) or with your private health insurer, and whether the planned procedure is covered by your policy, helps you avoid surprises. The most accurate source of this information is the hospital’s patient services department and your insurance company.

How should online patient reviews be read?

Reviews can give you an idea, but they should be read carefully:

• Look at the overall trend rather than individual reviews.
• Focus on recurring themes such as how well patients were informed, how easy it was to get in touch and how much attention they received.
• Be cautious about reviews that contain excessive praise or excessive criticism without any detail.
• Every patient’s condition and course of treatment is different; someone else’s outcome may not be the same for you.

How do you reach the doctor in an emergency?

After surgery or a procedure, problems such as fever, bleeding or being unable to pass urine can develop. Before treatment, it is important to ask whom you should contact and how in such a situation, and whether the hospital has an emergency department. For symptoms that need attention without waiting, see our article on urological emergencies.

Can you trust adverts that promise “guaranteed treatment”?

No. In medicine, no treatment guarantees the same result for every patient. Phrases such as “definitive cure”, “100% success” or “painless and risk-free”, a single method being recommended to everyone, or being rushed into a decision are warning signs to look out for. In addition, the promotion of health services in Turkey is restricted by law; exaggerated promises also breach these rules.

Where can I check information about a urologist?

The doctor’s own website, the hospital’s doctor profile and the scientific databases that list their publications give you access to most of the information above. As an example, you would expect a doctor’s page to include the following:

• The medical school and year of graduation (for example Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, 2009)
• The institution and years of specialist training (for example Ankara Training and Research Hospital, 2010–2015)
• Scientific publications (for example 19 national and international publications)
• Professional society memberships (for example the EAU, the Turkish Urological Association, the Society of Urological Surgery, the Eurasian Uro-Oncology Association and the Turkish Medical Association, known in Turkey as TTB)
• The hospitals where patients are seen, consultation days and the languages spoken

You can find this information about Op. Dr. Mücahit Kabar on the About and Scientific Publications pages.

When should you see a urologist?

It is advisable to see a urologist if you have complaints such as blood in your urine, pain spreading from your back to your groin, a weaker urine flow, frequent urination or getting up at night to urinate, recurrent urinary tract infections, a raised PSA, a hard lump in a testicle or erection problems. Bringing your previous test and imaging results to the appointment makes the assessment easier.

Op. Dr. Mücahit Kabar sees patients in Bursa (Nilüfer), Turkey, at Özel Medicabil Nilüfer Hastanesi (weekdays 08:30–12:00, +90 444 8 112) and Özel Jimer Hastanesi (weekdays 13:00–17:00, +90 444 45 67). Appointments are booked through the hospitals’ online booking pages or appointment lines. Consultations are held in English or Turkish; the hospitals’ international patient departments can arrange interpreters for other languages. If you are travelling from abroad or from another city, you can send your questions and reports by WhatsApp to +90 541 622 54 82 before your visit. See the contact and appointment information for details.