scholarly journals Psychometric properties of a self-assessment questionnaire concerning symptoms and impairment in urinary tract infections: the UTI-SIQ-8

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e043328
Author(s):  
Ildikó Gágyor ◽  
Katrin Rentzsch ◽  
Stephanie Strube-Plaschke ◽  
Wolfgang Himmel
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Sensitivity To Change ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Daily Changes ◽  
The Web

ObjectivesTo validate the urinary tract infection-Symptom and Impairment Questionnaire (UTI-SIQ-8), a questionnaire that consists of four items to assess the symptom severity for dysuria, urgency, frequenc, and low abdominal pain and four items to assess the resulting impairment of activity by UTIs.DesignProspective observation study.SettingGerman primary care practices.ParticipantsAn unselected population of women with UTI. Women could participate online via a web application for smartphones, smartwatches and tablets or use a paper-and-pencil version.Main outcomesPsychometric properties of the UTI-SIQ-8 regarding reliability, validity and sensitivity to change by using factor analysis and multilevel and network analysis.ResultsData from 120 women with a total of 769 symptom reports across 7 days of measurement were analysed. The majority of the participating patients (87/120) used the web application via smartphones or other devices. The reliability of the UTI-SIQ-8 was high, with Cronbach’s alpha of .86 at intake; convergent and discriminant validity was satisfactory. Intraclass correlation demonstrated high sensitivity to change, with 68% of the total variance being due to time differences. These daily changes in an individual’s symptoms moved parallel with daily changes in the EQ-5D-5L (b=1.68, SE=0.12, p<0.001) and the visual analogue scale (b=0.03, SE=0.003, p<0.001), also highlighting convergent validity with respect to daily changes in symptom severity.ConclusionsThe present findings support the UTI-SIQ-8 questionnaire as an economic, reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of symptom severity and symptom change in women with uncomplicated UTI. The web application helped patients to report symptoms on a daily basis. These findings may encourage primary care physicians to use the UTI-SIQ-8 in their daily practice and researchers to apply it to studies involving patients with uncomplicated UTI.

scholarly journals Management of urinary tract infections what do doctors recommend and patients do? An observational study in German primary care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ildikó Gágyor ◽  
Stephanie Strube-Plaschke ◽  
Katrin Rentzsch ◽  
Wolfgang Himmel
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Urinary Tract Infections ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Symptomatic Treatment ◽  
Growth Curve Models ◽  
Local Practices ◽  
Patient Questionnaires ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract Background Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women are usually managed in primary care with antibiotics. However, many women seem to prefer to handle UTI symptoms with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other remedies. The aim of this study was to compare UTI management as recommended by physicians with the patients’ management at home.Methods This prospective cohort study in German primary care is based on clinical data from local practices and patient questionnaires. Participating women completed a baseline data sheet in the practice; their urine sample was tested by a dipstick in the practice and cultured by a laboratory. The women reported treatment and symptom-related impairment on an eight-item symptom questionnaire daily for 7 days. Using growth curve models, we analysed the influence of time on the total severity score to examine how symptoms changed across days. We then examined whether symptom severity and symptom course differed between patients who took antibiotics or NSAIDs.Results A total of 120 women (mean age of 43.3 ± 16.6 years) were enrolled. The urine dipstick was positive for leucocytes in 92%, erythrocytes in 87%, and nitrites in 23%. Physicians prescribed antibiotics for 102 (87%) women and recommended NSAIDs in 14 cases. According to the women’s reports, only 60% (72/120) took antibiotics, while the remainder took NSAIDs and other remedies. Symptoms declined from day 0 to day 6, irrespective of whether women decided to take an antibiotic, NSAIDs, none or both, as confirmed by a significant curvilinear time effect (B = 0.06, SE = 0.005, p < .001). The symptom course, however, was moderated by taking antibiotics so that the change in symptom severity was somewhat more pronounced in women taking antibiotics (B = 0.06) than in the remainder (B = 0.04).Conclusion A substantial proportion of women did not follow their physicians’ treatment recommendations, and many used NSAIDs. All women had a good chance of recovery irrespective of whether they decided to take antibiotics. A sensitive listening to patient preferences in the consultation may encourage physicians to recommend and prescribe symptomatic treatment with NSAID more often than antibiotic medicines.

scholarly journals Management of urinary tract infections: what do doctors recommend and patients do? An observational study in German primary care

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ildikó Gágyor ◽  
Stephanie Strube-Plaschke ◽  
Katrin Rentzsch ◽  
Wolfgang Himmel
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Urinary Tract Infections ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Symptomatic Treatment ◽  
Growth Curve Models ◽  
Local Practices ◽  
Patient Questionnaires ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract Background Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women are usually managed in primary care with antibiotics. However, many women seem to prefer to handle UTI symptoms with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other remedies. The aim of this study was to compare UTI management as recommended by physicians with the patients’ management at home. Methods This prospective cohort study in German primary care is based on clinical data from local practices and patient questionnaires. Participating women completed a baseline data sheet in the practice; their urine sample was tested by a dipstick in the practice and cultured by a laboratory. The women reported treatment and symptom-related impairment on an eight-item symptom questionnaire daily for 7 days. Using growth curve models, we analysed the influence of time on the total severity score to examine how symptoms changed across days. We then examined whether symptom severity and symptom course differed between patients who took antibiotics or NSAIDs. Results A total of 120 women (mean age of 43.3 ± 16.6 years) were enrolled. The urine dipstick was positive for leucocytes in 92%, erythrocytes in 87%, and nitrites in 23%. Physicians prescribed antibiotics for 102 (87%) women and recommended NSAIDs in 14 cases. According to the women’s reports, only 60% (72/120) took antibiotics, while the remainder took NSAIDs and other remedies. Symptoms declined from day 0 to day 6, irrespective of whether women decided to take an antibiotic, NSAIDs, none or both, as confirmed by a significant curvilinear time effect (B = 0.06, SE = 0.005, p < .001). The symptom course, however, was moderated by taking antibiotics so that the change in symptom severity was somewhat more pronounced in women taking antibiotics (B = 0.06) than in the remainder (B = 0.04). Conclusion A substantial proportion of women did not follow their physicians’ treatment recommendations, and many used NSAIDs. All women had a good chance of recovery irrespective of whether they decided to take antibiotics. A sensitive listening to patient preferences in the consultation may encourage physicians to recommend and prescribe symptomatic treatment with NSAID more often than antibiotic medicines.

scholarly journals Management of urinary tract infections what do doctors recommend and patients do? An observational study in German primary care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ildikó Gágyor ◽  
Stephanie Strube-Plaschke ◽  
Katrin Rentzsch ◽  
Wolfgang Himmel
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Urinary Tract Infections ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Symptomatic Treatment ◽  
Growth Curve Models ◽  
Local Practices ◽  
Patient Questionnaires ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract Background Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women are usually managed in primary care with antibiotics. However, many women seem to prefer to handle UTI symptoms with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other remedies. The aim of this study was to compare UTI management as recommended by physicians with the patients’ management at home.Methods This prospective cohort study in German primary care is based on clinical data from local practices and patient questionnaires. Participating women completed a baseline data sheet in the practice; their urine sample was tested by a dipstick in the practice and cultured by a laboratory. The women reported treatment and symptom-related impairment on an eight-item symptom questionnaire daily for 7 days. Using growth curve models, we analysed the influence of time on the total severity score to examine how symptoms changed across days. We then examined whether symptom severity and symptom course differed between patients who took antibiotics or NSAIDs.Results A total of 120 women (mean age of 43.3 ± 16.6 years) were enrolled. The urine dipstick was positive for leucocytes in 92%, erythrocytes in 87%, and nitrites in 23%. Physicians prescribed antibiotics for 102 (87%) women and recommended NSAIDs in 14 cases. According to the women’s reports, only 60% (72/120) took antibiotics, while the remainder took NSAIDs and other remedies. Symptoms declined from day 0 to day 6, irrespective of whether women decided to take an antibiotic, NSAIDs, none or both, as confirmed by a significant curvilinear time effect (B = 0.06, SE = 0.005, p < .001). The symptom course, however, was moderated by taking antibiotics so that the change in symptom severity was somewhat more pronounced in women taking antibiotics (B = 0.06) than in the remainder (B = 0.04).Conclusion A substantial proportion of women did not follow their physicians’ treatment recommendations, and many used NSAIDs. All women had a good chance of recovery irrespective of whether they decided to take antibiotics. A sensitive listening to patient preferences in the consultation may encourage physicians to recommend and prescribe symptomatic treatment with NSAID more often than antibiotic medicines.

scholarly journals Management of urinary tract infections what do doctors recommend and patients do? An observational study in German primary care

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ildikó Gágyor ◽  
Stephanie Strube-Plaschke ◽  
Katrin Rentzsch ◽  
Wolfgang Himmel
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Urinary Tract Infections ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Symptomatic Treatment ◽  
Growth Curve Models ◽  
Local Practices ◽  
Patient Questionnaires ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women are usually managed in primary care with antibiotics. However, many women seem to prefer to handle UTI symptoms with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other remedies. The aim of this study was to compare UTI management as recommended by physicians with the patients’ management at home. Methods This prospective study in German primary care is based on clinical data from local practices and patient questionnaires. Participating women completed a baseline data sheet in the practice; their urine sample was tested by a dipstick in the practice and cultured by a laboratory. The women reported treatment and symptom-related impairment on an eight-item symptom questionnaire daily for 7 days. Using growth curve models, we analysed the influence of time on the total severity score to examine how symptoms changed across days. We then examined whether symptom severity and symptom course differed between patients who took antibiotics or NSAIDs. Results A total of 120 patients (mean age of 43.3 ± 16.6 years) were enrolled. The urine dipstick was positive for leucocytes in 92%, erythrocytes in 87%, and nitrites in 23%. Physicians prescribed antibiotics for 102 (87%) women and recommended NSAIDs in 14 cases. According to the women’s reports, only 60% (72/120) took antibiotics, while the remainder took NSAIDs and other remedies. Symptoms declined from day 0 to day 6, irrespective of whether women decided to take an antibiotic, NSAIDs, none or both, as confirmed by a significant curvilinear time effect (B = 0.06, SE = 0.005, p < .001). The symptom course, however, was moderated by taking antibiotics so that the change in symptom severity was somewhat more pronounced in women taking antibiotics (B = 0.06) than in the remainder (B = 0.04). Conclusion A substantial proportion of women did not follow their physicians’ treatment recommendations, and many used NSAIDs. All women had a good chance of recovery irrespective of whether they decided to take antibiotics. A sensitive listening to patient preferences in the consultation may encourage physicians to recommend and prescribe symptomatic treatment more often than antibiotic medicines.

scholarly journals 1475. Understanding Prescribing Practices for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in the Primary Care Setting: A Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S538-S538
Author(s):  
Mark Pinkerton ◽  
Jahnavi Bongu ◽  
Aimee James ◽  
Michael Durkin
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Urinary Tract Infections ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Support Tools ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Clinical Decision Support Tools

Abstract Background Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) should be treated empirically with a short course of narrow-spectrum antibiotics. However, many clinicians order unnecessary tests and treat with long courses of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to understand how internists clinically approach UTIs. Methods We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews of community primary care providers (n = 15) and internal medicine residents (n = 15) in St. Louis, Missouri from 2018 to 2019 to explore why clinical practices deviate from evidence-based guidelines. Interviews were transcribed, de-identified, and coded by two independent researchers using NVivo qualitative software. A Likert scale was used to evaluate preferences for possible interventions. Results Several common themes emerged. Both providers and residents ordered urine tests to “confirm” presence of urinary tract infections. Antibiotic prescriptions were often based on historical practice and anecdotal experience. Providers were more comfortable treating over the phone than residents and tended to prescribe longer courses of antibiotics. Both providers and residents voiced frustrations with guidelines being difficult to easily incorporate due to length and extraneous information. Preferences for receiving and incorporating guidelines into practice varied. Both groups felt benchmarking would improve prescribing practices, but had reservations about implementation. Pragmatic clinical decision support tools were favored by providers, with residents preferring order sets and attendings preferring nurse triage algorithms. Conclusion Misconceptions regarding urinary tract infection management were common among residents and community primary care providers. Multifaceted interventions that include provider education, synthesis of guidelines, and pragmatic clinical decision support tools are needed to improve antibiotic prescribing and diagnostic testing; optimal interventions to improve UTI management may vary based on provider training level. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Preventing and Managing Urinary Tract Infections: Enhancing the Role of Community Pharmacists—A Mixed Methods Study

Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Peiffer-Smadja ◽  
Rosalie Allison ◽  
Leah F. Jones ◽  
Alison Holmes ◽  
Parvesh Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Urinary Symptoms ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Specific Patient ◽  
Tract Infections

Background: Community pharmacists are involved in antimicrobial stewardship through self-care advice and delivering medications for uncomplicated infections. Objectives: This mixed methods study aimed to identify opportunities to enhance the role of community pharmacists in the management of service users with suspected or confirmed urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods: Data collection was through a service user survey (n = 51) and pharmacist surveys and semi-structured interviews before (16 interviews, 22 questionnaires) and after (15 interviews, 16 questionnaires) trialing UTI leaflets designed to be shared with service users. Data were analysed inductively using thematic analysis and descriptive tabulation of quantitative data. Results: Twenty-five percent (n = 13/51) of service users with urinary symptoms sought help from a pharmacist first and 65% (n = 33/51) were comfortable discussing their urinary symptoms with a pharmacist in a private space. Community pharmacists were confident as the first professional contact for service users with uncomplicated UTI (n = 13/16, 81%), but indicated the lack of a specific patient referral pathway (n = 16/16, 100%), the need for additional funding and staff (n = 10/16, 62%), and the importance of developing prescription options for pharmacists (5/16, 31%). All community pharmacists reported playing a daily role in controlling antimicrobial resistance by educating service users about viral and bacterial infections and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Enhancing their role will need greater integrated working with general practices and more prescribers based in community pharmacy. Conclusion: This study suggests that community pharmacists could play a greater role in the management of uncomplicated UTI. The current reconfiguration of primary care in England with primary care networks and integrated care systems could provide a real opportunity for this collaborative working with potential learning for international initiatives.

scholarly journals Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in Swedish primary care; etiology, resistance and treatment

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Kornfält Isberg ◽  
Eva Melander ◽  
Katarina Hedin ◽  
Sigvard Mölstad ◽  
Anders Beckman
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Urinary Tract Infections ◽  
Tract Infections

scholarly journals Variations in presentation, management, and patient outcomes of urinary tract infection: a prospective four-country primary care observational cohort study

2017 ◽  
Vol 67 (665) ◽  
pp. e830-e841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C Butler ◽  
Nick Francis ◽  
Emma Thomas-Jones ◽  
Carl Llor ◽  
Emily Bongard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Urinary Tract Infection ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Tract Infection ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Urine Culture ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection

BackgroundRegional variations in the presentation of uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) and pathogen sensitivity to antibiotics have been cited as reasons to justify differences in how the infections are managed, which includes the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics.AimTo describe presentation and management of UTI in primary care settings, and explore the association with patient recovery, taking microbiological findings and case mix into account.Design and settingProspective observational study of females with symptoms of uncomplicated UTI presenting to primary care networks in England, Wales, the Netherlands, and Spain.MethodClinicians recorded history, symptom severity, management, and requested mid-stream urine culture. Participants recorded, in a diary, symptom severity each day for 14 days. Time to recovery was compared between patient characteristics and between countries using two-level Cox proportional hazards models, with patients nested within practices.ResultsIn total, 797 females attending primary care networks in England (n = 246, 30.9% of cohort), Wales (n = 213, 26.7%), the Netherlands (n = 133, 16.7%), and Spain (n = 205, 25.7%) were included. In total, 259 (35.8%, 95% confidence interval 32.3 to 39.2) of 726 females for whom there was a result were urine culture positive for UTI. Pathogens and antibiotic sensitivities were similar. Empirical antibiotics were prescribed for 95.1% in England, 92.9% in Wales, 95.1% in Spain, and 59.4% in the Netherlands There were no meaningful differences at a country network level before and after controlling for severity, prior UTIs, and antibiotic prescribing.ConclusionVariation in presentation and management of uncomplicated UTI at a country primary care network level is clinically unwarranted and highlights a lack of consensus concerning optimal symptom control and antibiotic prescribing.

A Decision Support System (DSS) for Colorectal Cancer Follow-Up Program via a Semantic Framework

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalpdrum Passi ◽  
Hongtao Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Support System ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Semantic Framework ◽  
Follow Up Care ◽  
The Web

This paper offers insights into evolving a decision support system (DSS) to aid primary care physicians and/or nurses in the post-surgical care of patients with Colorectal Cancer in a clinical setting. Presently, the oncologists in the cancer center, who are familiar with the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), are primarily responsible for the provision of follow-up care to their patients on the basis of the CPGs; in contrast, the attending primary care physician and/or nurse assisting the oncologist may be unfamiliar with these guidelines. These caregivers would, therefore, either require hardcopies of the CPGs or can be aided via a DSS for them to be able to provide the appropriate follow-up care for the respective cancer patients. Clearly, the Colorectal Cancer follow-up CPGs have to be analyzed and the ontology representing the knowledge embedded in the guidelines designed prior to realizing such a DSS. The designed ontology is often coded into Web Ontology Language (OWL) as a standard ontology that can be accessed through the Web. The authors' research team designed and presented the semantic framework of the web application, using the designed ontology that combines the current Web technology with database storage to achieve a unified development of the DSS. The authors also designed a user-friendly interface of the Web application to provide medical practitioners the functionality of the CPGs and the flexibility to customize the desired follow-up care schedule. The resulting DSS provides the physicians with follow-up program for the Colorectal Cancer patients based on the CPGs. The system was built using the semantic framework for the follow-up program and queries on the system are executed through SPARQL query engine.

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