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Patient Distress in Women with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: How Can Physicians Better Meet Patients Needs?

  • Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms & Voiding Dysfunction (J Sandhu, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Recurrent urinary tract infections are a common condition that can impact patients’ quality of life. The purpose of this review is to summarize and analyze the literature regarding the distress that these infections can cause to patients and provide guidance to clinicians on how to improve care of these patients.

Recent Findings

The current literature on patient perspectives in urinary tract infections shows an emotional symptom experience that is not consistent with the typical symptoms expected by clinicians. The infections can impact all aspects of quality of life, including social, emotional, and financial domains.

Summary

Women with recurrent urinary tract infections experience a significant amount of distress. They have a strong desire for validation of their experiences by their physicians. Clinicians can best serve these patients by understanding the true impact of their condition and creating treatment strategies that include shared decision making to meet patients’ goals.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Urology and Renal Transplantation, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Dena Moskowitz & Una Lee

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  1. Dena Moskowitz
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  2. Una Lee
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Correspondence to Dena Moskowitz.

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Conflict of Interest

Dena Moskowitz and Una Lee each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms & Voiding Dysfunction

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Moskowitz, D., Lee, U. Patient Distress in Women with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: How Can Physicians Better Meet Patients Needs?. Curr Urol Rep 19, 97 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-018-0849-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-018-0849-1

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