Women's Experiences of Recurrent UTIs: A Qualitative Study of Preventive Management and Decision Support Needs.

IF 3.4 3区医学 Q2 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

Health Expectations Pub Date : 2026-10-01 DOI:10.1111/hex.70890

Catherine V Hayes, Donna M Lecky, Haroon Ahmed, Rebecca Cannings-John, Adrian Edwards, Fiona Wood, Leigh Sanyaolu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) are common in women and significantly impact their daily lives. Prophylactic antibiotics are the primary preventive option for rUTIs when other options have been unsuccessful, but their use can increase the risk of antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to explore women's experiences of rUTIs and the support needed to make decisions about prevention and management.

Methods: Qualitative focus groups were conducted with 25 women with self-reported rUTIs, discussing hypothetical vignettes related to rUTI management. Topic guides were co-produced with women with lived experience and informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Data were analysed thematically.

Results: Themes included: (1) Recurrent UTIs are a debilitating condition, (2) Current healthcare does not support women with rUTIs, (3) 'Why is this happening?' (4) Preventive options are frequently tried with varying success and (5) Greater support is needed for women with rUTIs. Overall, women experienced rUTIs as a chronic condition and believed it should be managed with greater continuity. Women experienced stigma attached to rUTI, exacerbated by repeated discussions about hygiene from healthcare professionals (HCPs). Women had concerns around antibiotic use but were reluctant to stop prophylaxis if it was effectively preventing rUTIs; a contingency plan to address potential recurrences could help. Women reported mixed success with non-antibiotic strategies but were interested in trialling these with greater guidance from HCPs.

Conclusion: Improved management of rUTI requires greater continuity and proactive discussions on prevention, including better support for discussions on risks and benefits to enhance shared decision-making.

Patient or public contribution: Four female public contributors with experience of rUTI were involved from study planning to completion. They helped co-develop the topic guide vignettes, suggested potential recruitment routes and commented on the interpretation of themes in the context of their lived experience.

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妇女复发性尿路感染的经验：预防性管理和决策支持需求的定性研究。

导读：复发性尿路感染（rUTIs）在女性中很常见，并显著影响她们的日常生活。当其他选择都不成功时，预防性抗生素是rUTIs的主要预防选择，但它们的使用会增加抗菌素耐药性的风险。本研究旨在探讨妇女在ruti中的经历，以及在作出预防和管理决策时所需的支持。方法：对25名自我报告rUTI的女性进行定性焦点小组，讨论与rUTI管理相关的假设事件。主题指南是与有实际经验的妇女共同编写的，并由理论领域框架提供信息。数据按主题进行分析。结果：主题包括：(1)复发性尿路感染是一种使人衰弱的疾病，(2)目前的医疗保健不支持患有尿路感染的妇女，(3)“为什么会发生这种情况？”(4)经常尝试各种预防措施，取得了不同程度的成功；(5)需要为患有ruti的妇女提供更多的支持。总的来说，女性经历ruti是一种慢性疾病，她们认为应该以更大的连续性来治疗。妇女经历了与rUTI相关的耻辱，医疗保健专业人员（HCPs）反复讨论卫生问题加剧了这种耻辱。妇女对抗生素的使用感到担忧，但如果抗生素能有效预防rUTIs，她们不愿意停止预防；制定一个应急计划来应对可能再次发生的情况可能会有所帮助。妇女报告说，非抗生素策略取得了不同程度的成功，但她们对在HCPs的指导下试验这些策略感兴趣。结论：改善rUTI的管理需要更大的连续性和对预防的积极讨论，包括更好地支持对风险和利益的讨论，以加强共同决策。患者或公众贡献者：四名具有rUTI经验的女性公众贡献者参与了从研究计划到完成。他们帮助共同制定主题指南，建议潜在的招聘路线，并根据他们的生活经验对主题的解释发表评论。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Health Expectations 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

5.20

自引率

9.40%

发文量

251

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Health Expectations promotes critical thinking and informed debate about all aspects of patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) in health and social care, health policy and health services research including: • Person-centred care and quality improvement • Patients'' participation in decisions about disease prevention and management • Public perceptions of health services • Citizen involvement in health care policy making and priority-setting • Methods for monitoring and evaluating participation • Empowerment and consumerism • Patients'' role in safety and quality • Patient and public role in health services research • Co-production (researchers working with patients and the public) of research, health care and policy Health Expectations is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal publishing original research, review articles and critical commentaries. It includes papers which clarify concepts, develop theories, and critically analyse and evaluate specific policies and practices. The Journal provides an inter-disciplinary and international forum in which researchers (including PPIE researchers) from a range of backgrounds and expertise can present their work to other researchers, policy-makers, health care professionals, managers, patients and consumer advocates.