Mixed-Methods Analysis of Provider-Documented and Patient-Reported Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms Among Veterans...

Inappropriate urinary tract infection diagnosis in patients with neurogenic bladder may result from ambiguous symptoms experienced by these patients and contributes to antibiotic overuse. Characterization of patient-reported signs and symptoms may help providers more appropriately diagnose urinary tract infections. A previous study collected signs and symptoms recorded in electronic medical records of patients with neurogenic bladder due to spinal cord injury/disorder, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease with at least one urinary tract infection diagnosis between 2017-2018 at four medical centers. In this study, 23 veterans from this cohort with urinary tract infection diagnoses in the previous year participated in focus groups conducted May 2021-May 2022. Transcripts were coded using mixed deductive and inductive coding. Qualitative data were compared to electronic medical records data to give a comprehensive picture of signs and symptoms. Both providers and patients attributed nonspecific symptoms like urine changes to urinary tract infection, but there was discordance between patients and providers in the identification of other signs and symptoms. Several patients described providers disregarding symptoms other than fever or chills. Optimizing urinary tract infection care for patients with neurogenic bladder could involve improving patient-provider communication about urinary tract infection signs and symptoms and emphasizing thorough elicitation and evaluation of all signs and symptoms.