Faculty Collaboration Database

Reasons for Seeking Clinical Care for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Mixed Methods Study. J Urol 2018 Feb;199(2):528-535

Date

07/25/2017

Pubmed ID

28734864

Pubmed Central ID

PMC5775934

DOI

10.1016/j.juro.2017.07.067

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85038918850 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   15 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate reasons for seeking care among men and women with lower urinary tract symptoms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were recruited from urology and urogynecology clinics, and the community. The sample was enriched with persons expected to have abnormal or diminished bladder sensations (eg participants with lower back surgery and participants 65 years old or older). Interviews were performed in person beginning with an open-ended assessment of urinary symptoms and associated bother followed by more directed questions, including reasons for seeking or not seeking treatment. We also examined the relationship between symptom frequency and bother using the LUTS (Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms) Tool.

RESULTS: A total of 88 participants, including 38 men and 50 women, with a mean ± SD age of 52.2 ± 14.3 years provided information about urinary symptoms, including a range of quality of life consequences and coping behaviors. They sought treatment mostly because of new, continuing or bothersome symptoms. Factors associated with not seeking treatment included low symptom severity and concerns about the costs vs the benefits of treatment (eg side effects of medication). Symptom frequency and bother were associated with each other across symptoms assessed by the LUTS Tool.

CONCLUSIONS: In this large qualitative study we obtained useful insights into the impact of lower urinary tract symptoms from the perspective of the person with the symptoms. Removing barriers and misconceptions about the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms may increase the number of people who seek clinical care and improve the clinical course of men and women who experience lower urinary tract symptoms.

Author List

Griffith JW, Messersmith EE, Gillespie BW, Wiseman JB, Flynn KE, Kirkali Z, Kusek JW, Bavendam T, Cella D, Kreder KJ, Nero JJ, Corona ME, Bradley CS, Kenton KS, Helfand BT, Merion RM, Weinfurt KP, LURN Study Group

Author

Kathryn Eve Flynn PhD Vice Chair, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Services Accessibility
Humans
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Qualitative Research
Quality of Life