Frequency volume chart for the illiterate population: A simple solution.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Clinical Research Methodology

Background:

• Assessing urinary voiding patterns is crucial for urological evaluation.
• Traditional frequency volume charts (FVC) require patients to maintain written records.
• Illiterate or less literate patients face challenges with written FVC recording.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel, feasible method for recording FVC in adult patients with limited literacy.
• To compare patient-reported data (interpreted by investigators) with nursing staff-recorded data.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 30 adult patients requiring FVC for urological evaluation.
• Patients were either illiterate or not sufficiently literate for written records.
• Data collected via patient-reported (investigator-interpreted) and nursing staff-recorded methods were compared.

Main Results:

• The novel FVC recording method demonstrated feasibility in all patients.
• Patient-reported data, interpreted by investigators, closely matched nursing staff recordings.
• Key metrics like 24-hour urine production, voided volumes, and frequency showed no significant differences.

Conclusions:

• The novel FVC recording method is a feasible and reliable alternative for patients with limited literacy.
• This approach provides clinically informative data comparable to traditional written FVCs.
• It enhances urological evaluation accessibility for a broader patient population.