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Patients' Experiences, Expectations, Motivations, and Perspectives around Urinary Tract Infection Care in General
Stefan Cox1, Maud Vleeming1, Wesley Giorgi1
1Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 HA Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 25, 2023
Summary
Patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) often expect antibiotics due to lack of knowledge and prior experiences. Involving patients in decision-making can improve satisfaction and reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Infectious Diseases
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Antibiotic alternatives for urinary tract infections (UTIs) exist but are underutilized.
- General practitioners (GPs) face patient pressure to prescribe antibiotics for UTIs.
- Understanding patient perspectives is crucial for optimizing UTI management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patient experiences, expectations, and motivations regarding UTIs in general practice.
- To identify factors contributing to patient pressure for antibiotic prescriptions.
- To explore how patient knowledge and involvement influence UTI treatment decisions.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study employing 14 semi-structured online interviews with female UTI patients.
- Interviews guided by a topic list derived from sensitizing concepts.
- Data analyzed using a constant comparative technique.
Main Results:
- Three key themes emerged: patient experience levels (inexperienced vs. experienced), patient knowledge gaps, and the importance of feeling understood.
- Inexperienced patients sought diagnosis and relief, while experienced patients often sought antibiotics.
- Patients demonstrated limited knowledge about UTI diagnosis, treatment, and self-care.
Conclusions:
- Patient expectations, often formed early, significantly impact subsequent UTI management.
- Addressing misconceptions, particularly in inexperienced patients, is vital to prevent overtreatment.
- Enhanced patient involvement in decision-making increases satisfaction and understanding of GP treatment choices.
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