Experiences among men with localised urinary tract infection in primary care: a qualitative study

General practitioners (GPs) do not see men with localised urinary tract infection (UTI) very often which limits their possibility of developing expertise in the area. To gain knowledge of male patients' experiences and perspectives on localised UTIs, qualitative research is needed.

To explore expectations, experiences and symptoms in men with localised urinary tract infection in primary health care (PHC).

A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with men with a history of localised UTI treated in PHC was performed.

Data were collected from patients with recent experience of localised UTI, using semi-structured interviews. An interview guide with open-ended questions was used. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was performed.

The median age of the 18 patients was 77.5 years. The interviews lasted an average of 16 min. Four themes emerged: (1) stigma and self-blame in managing illness. (2) Adaptation, careful planning and normalization. (3) Gender and help seeking behaviour. (4) Healthcare experience-uncertainty and trust. Many patients reflected on the causes behind their infection and expressed aspects of self-infliction. They explained that symptoms from the localised UTI affected their daily lives and adjusted their way of living according to them.

Localised UTI symptoms in men affect their daily lives. GPs should be perceptive regarding any beliefs among patients with localised UTI, as well as any self-imposed guilt that could lead to unnecessary lifestyle changes. Although the patients in this study expressed good confidence in health care, they also found the care not individualized enough.