Emotional and physical discomfort in urodynamic studies: A questionnaire-based assessment in a Middle Eastern...

Urodynamic study (UDS) is a valuable diagnostic test in urological practice. Due to the nature of the test, patients may experience emotional and physical discomfort. Mixed information exists on the degree of emotional and physical discomfort and their association with age, sex, body mass index, prior explanation, use of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), and presence of a neurogenic bladder.

Over a period of 7 months, all patients undergoing UDS in our department were included in this study. Two self-completed anonymous questionnaires were distributed before and immediately after the test. Basic epidemiological as well as medical information was collected. A Likert score of 0-5 was used to rate the levels of anxiety, embarrassment, and pain prior to and after the test. Statistical analysis was done to identify factors that can influence the emotional and physical experience.

A total of 65 patients completed the questionnaire. Higher levels of emotional and physical discomfort before and after the procedure were experienced by patients who underwent UDS for the first time. Patients reported significantly lower levels of anxiety, embarrassment, and pain after the procedure compared to their anticipated levels before the procedure, P = 0.0002, 0.029, and 0.003, respectively. Patients using CIC reported lower levels of anxiety and anticipated pain (P = 0.0002 and 0.03). The presence of a neurogenic bladder was associated with lower levels of anxiety and embarrassment (P = 0.002 and 0.03).

Emotional and physical discomfort is experienced by most patients undergoing UDS which leads to hesitancy in agreeing to proceed with the test. Our results showed that UDS is well tolerated, with experienced discomfort lower than expected. Having a neurogenic bladder and using CIC were predictors of lower emotional discomfort.