Risk factors for urinary tract symptoms in women: beliefs among general practitioners and women and the effect on patient management

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract symptoms are common in women. A variety of risk factors have been investigated in the past. One of the more likely risk factors for these symptoms is recent sexual intercourse; another is diaphragm use. Morbidity levels are increasing, although effective antibiotic treatment is available.

Aim: To study the beliefs of women and their general practitioners (GPs) about urinary tract symptoms and to determine how these may affect management.

Method: An interview survey with 113 women consulting with urinary tract symptoms and the 22 GPs they consulted.

Results: Doctors and women have similar beliefs about the 'causes' of urinary tract symptoms, but the relative importance differs. Both acknowledge the association with sexual intercourse but fail to communicate about this during the consultation. Patients reported being embarrassed on their own and their GP's behalf if sensitive subjects were raised. Doctors failed to ask women what they thought had caused the symptoms and were also unlikely to suggest to them likely causes. They also reported reticence to do more than prescribe, at least in first consultations, and half of the doctors routinely prescribed antibiotics, regardless of a near patient diagnostic urinary stick test result. The advice given was not necessarily evidence based.

Conclusions: GPs need to be more aware of the risk factors associated with urinary tract symptoms in women and should formulate their advice accordingly. The reticence to discuss sensitive subjects by both GPs and patients has implications for the ability to broach sexual matters in any consultation in which they are not the reason or focus for that consultation.