Comparing written and verbal delivery of a treatment regimen to women with overactive bladder: a randomized...

Overactive bladder is a common condition among aging women requiring a multifaceted treatment approach, which is usually communicated by physician to the patient in the clinic setting. The objective of this two-center, randomized controlled trial was to determine if a transcribed list of six management strategies for overactive bladder improves immediate and delayed retention of these recommendations compared with a traditional verbal discussion.

Between March, 2015 and February, 2019, women newly diagnosed with overactive bladder were randomized to either the intervention group, where they received a transcribed list of six treatment recommendations, or to the control group, where the same six recommendations were communicated verbally by their physician. Participants in both groups were asked to recall treatment recommendations immediately after their appointment and 2 weeks later. A score out of 6 was assigned at each time point based on the number of recommendations participants could list. Scores at each point of recall were compared between groups.

Seventy-two women were recruited and randomized to either the written instruction (n = 34) or verbal discussion group (n = 38). Immediate total retention score was significantly better for women who received the transcribed list compared with those receiving verbal communication (P = 0.002). There was no difference in 2-week total information retention scores between groups.

A written list of recommendations is a quality improvement initiative that can improve overactive bladder participants' immediate retention of a suggested treatment regimen, but lacks impact 2 weeks later.