Top

Asia Pacific Family Medicine

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research

In a free healthcare system, why do men not consult for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)?

Authors: U Chong lai, Yuk Tsan Wun, Tze Chao Luo, Sai Meng Pang

Published in: Asia Pacific Family Medicine | Issue 1/2011

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) varies among different populations but the rate of seeking medical advice is consistently low. Little is known about the reasons for this low rate. In the city of Macau, China, primary healthcare is free and easily accessible to all citizens. We aim to study the patients' rate of consulting for LUTS and their reasons for not consulting under a free healthcare system.

Method

A convenience sample of 549 male patients aged 40-85 years in a government health centre filled in the International Prostate Symptoms Scale (IPSS) questionnaire. They were also asked if they had consulted doctors for LUTS, and if not, why not.

Result

Of the whole sample, 64 men (11.7%) had ever consulted doctors for LUTS. Of 145 with moderate to severe LUTS, 35 (24.1%) consulted. Of 73 who were dissatisfied with their quality of life, 22 (30.1%) consulted. Regarding the symptoms as normal or not problematic was the main reason for not consulting. Advancing age and duration of symptoms were the significant factors for consulting.

Conclusion

Primary care doctors could help many of LUTS patients by sensitively initiating the discussion when these patients consult for other problems.

Garraway WM, Collins GN, Lee RJ: High prevalence of benign prostatic hypertrophy in the community. Lancet 1991,338(8765):469–71. 10.1016/0140-6736(91)90543-XPubMedCrossRef

Simpson RJ, Fisher W, Lee AJ, Russell EB, Garraway M: Benign prostatic hyperplasia in an unselected community-based population: a survey of urinary symptoms, bothersomeness and prostatic enlargement. Br J Urol 1996,77(2):186–91. 10.1046/j.1464-410X.1996.08593.xPubMedCrossRef

Boyle P, Robertson C, Mazzetta C, Keech M, Hobbs FD, Fourcade R, Kiemeney L, Lee C: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in men and women in four centres. The UrEpik study. BJU Int 2003,92(4):409–14. 10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04369.xPubMedCrossRef

Sagnier PP, Girman CJ, Garraway M, Kumamoto Y, Lieber MM, Richard F, MacFarlane G, Guess HA, Jacobsen SJ, Tsukamoto T, Boyle P: International comparison of the community prevalence of symptoms of prostatism in four countries. Eur Urol 1996,29(1):15–20.PubMed

Norby B, Nordling J, Mortensen S: Lower urinary tract symptoms in the danish population: a population-based study of symptom prevalence, health-care seeking behavior and prevalence of treatment in elderly males and females. Eur Urol 2005,47(6):817–23. 10.1016/j.eururo.2005.01.011PubMedCrossRef

Li MK, Garcia LA, Rosen R: Lower urinary tract symptoms and male sexual dysfunction in Asia: a survey of ageing men from five Asian countries. BJU Int 2005,96(9):1339–54. 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2005.05831.xPubMedCrossRef

Trueman P, Hood SC, Nayak US, Mrazek MF: Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms and self-reported diagnosed 'benign prostatic hyperplasia', and their effect on quality of life in a community-based survey of men in the UK. BJU Int 1999,83(4):410–5.PubMedCrossRef

Jacobsen SJ, Girman CJ, Guess HA, Panser LA, Chute CG, Oesterling JE, Lieber MM: Do prostate size and urinary flow rates predict health care-seeking behavior for urinary symptoms in men? Urology 1995,45(1):64–9. 10.1016/S0090-4295(95)96766-4PubMedCrossRef

Simpson RJ, Lee RJ, Garraway WM, King D, McIntosh I: Consultation patterns in a community survey of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Br J Gen Pract 1994,44(388):499–502.PubMedCentralPubMed

10.

Sarma AV, Wallner L, Jacobsen SJ, Dunn RL, Wei JT: Health seeking behavior for lower urinary tract symptoms in black men. J Urol 2008,180(1):227–32. 10.1016/j.juro.2008.03.032PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

11.

Hunter DJ, Berra-Unamuno A: Treatment-seeking behaviour and stated preferences for prostatectomy in Spanish men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Br J Urol 1997,79(5):742–8.PubMedCrossRef

12.

Emberton M, Marberger M, de la Rosette J: Understanding patient and physician perceptions of benign prostatic hyperplasia in Europe: The Prostate Research on Behaviour and Education (PROBE) Survey. Int J Clin Pract 2008,62(1):18–26.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

13.

Garraway WM, Russell EB, Lee RJ, Collins GN, McKelvie GB, Hehir M, Rogers AC, Simpson RJ: Impact of previously unrecognized benign prostatic hyperplasia on the daily activities of middle-aged and elderly men. Br J Gen Pract 1993,43(373):318–21.PubMedCentralPubMed

14.

Coyne KS, Sexton CC, Thompson CL, Milsom I, Irwin D, Kopp ZS, Chapple CR, Kaplan S, Tubaro A, Aiyer LP, Wein AJ: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in the USA, the UK and Sweden: results from the Epidemiology of LUTS (EpiLUTS) study. BJU Int 2009,104(3):352–60. 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2009.08427.xPubMedCrossRef

15.

Wan S-p, Hu L-q, Liu Y, et al.: Survey of lower urinary tract symptoms in 2811 men in Wuhan City. Chinese Journal of Urology 2004, 9: 585–87.

16.

Hamzah AA, Rahman MNG, Daud MAM, Mahamood Z: A survey on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in hospital universiti sains malaysia (HUSM). Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2007, 14: 67–71.PubMedCentralPubMed

17.

Verhamme KM, Dieleman JP, Bleumink GS, van der Lei J, Sturkenboom MC, Artibani W, Begaud B, Berges R, Borkowski A, Chappel CR, Costello A, Dobronski P, Farmer RD, Jimenez Cruz F, Jonas U, MacRae K, Pientka L, Rutten FF, van Schayck CP, Speakman MJ, Tiellac P, Tubaro A, Vallencien G, Vela Navarrete R: Incidence and prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia in primary care--the Triumph project. Eur Urol 2002,42(4):323–8. 10.1016/S0302-2838(02)00354-8PubMedCrossRef

18.

Scarpa RM: Lower urinary tract symptoms: what are the implications for the patients? Eur Urol 2001,40(Suppl 4):12–20.PubMedCrossRef

Title: In a free healthcare system, why do men not consult for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)?
Authors: U Chong lai
Yuk Tsan Wun
Tze Chao Luo
Sai Meng Pang
Publication date: 01-12-2011
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Asia Pacific Family Medicine / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1447-056X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1447-056X-10-7

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

In a free healthcare system, why do men not consult for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)?

Abstract

Background

Method

Result

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Method

Result

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2011

Treat-to-target approach in managing modifiable risk factors of patients with coronary heart disease in primary care in Singapore: what are the issues?

Are patient-centered care values as reflected in teaching scenarios really being taught when implemented by teaching faculty? A discourse analysis on an Indonesian medical school's curriculum

Cultural aspects of primary healthcare in india: A case- based analysis

Working toward decreasing infant mortality in developing countries through change in the medical curriculum

The 13 item Family Support Scale: Reliability and validity of the Greek translation in a sample of Greek health care professionals

Family resources study: part 1: family resources, family function and caregiver strain in childhood cancer