Journal article
Reasons for Seeking Clinical Care for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Mixed Methods Study
The Journal of Urology, Vol.199(2), pp.528-535
02/2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2017.07.067
PMCID: PMC5775934
PMID: 28734864
Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to evaluate reasons for seeking care among men and women with lower urinary tract symptoms. 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. 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. 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.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Reasons for Seeking Clinical Care for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Mixed Methods Study
- Creators
- James W Griffith - Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IllinoisEmily E Messersmith - Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, MichiganBrenda W Gillespie - Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MichiganJonathan B Wiseman - Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, MichiganKathryn E Flynn - Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WisconsinZiya Kirkali - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MarylandJohn W Kusek - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MarylandTamara Bavendam - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MarylandDavid Cella - Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IllinoisKarl J Kreder - University of Iowa Department of Urology, Iowa City, IowaJasmine J Nero - NorthShore University HealthSystem, Glenview, IllinoisMaria E Corona - Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IllinoisCatherine S Bradley - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IowaKimberly S Kenton - Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IllinoisBrian T Helfand - NorthShore University HealthSystem, Glenview, IllinoisRobert M Merion - Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, MichiganKevin P Weinfurt - Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North CarolinaLURN Study Group
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of Urology, Vol.199(2), pp.528-535
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.juro.2017.07.067
- PMID
- 28734864
- PMCID
- PMC5775934
- NLM abbreviation
- J Urol
- ISSN
- 0022-5347
- eISSN
- 1527-3792
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2018
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Urology
- Record Identifier
- 9983931004102771
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