Objective: To estimate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms, urinary incontinence and overactive bladder in western Turkey. Method: This cross-sectional, population-based survey was carried out between May and October 2012. A random sample of 2128 women and men aged ≥18 years was selected from the health registries. A questionnaire including sociodemographic data, comorbid conditions, lower urinary tract symptoms, overactive bladder and urinary incontinence symptoms, body mass index, vital signs, and dipstick urinalysis was developed. The questions were answered by the participants, and remaining data were provided by the site staff. International Continence Society definitions were used. Results: A total of 1571 (74%) individuals agreed to participate, and analysis were carried out on 1555 people (636 men [40.9%] and 919 women [59.1%]) after 16 individuals with a nitrite-positive dipstick test were excluded. Lower urinary tract symptoms were reported by 71.0% of the study population. The prevalence of storage, voiding and post-micturition symptoms were 56.1% (44.2% men, 64.1% women), 39.3% (40.9% men, 37.8% women) and 30.7% (38.6% men, 28.7% women), respectively. The most prevalent storage symptom was urgency, which was reported by 29.3% of the study population (20.1% men, 35.6% women). The prevalence of urge, stress and mixed urinary incontinence were: 6.5% (3.9% men, 8.2% women), 14.1% (3.9% men, 21.2% women) and 5.6% (0.8% men, 9.0% women), respectively. Conclusion: The present study is the first and largest population-based survey evaluating the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms, urinary incontinence and overactive bladder in Turkey. Our findings show these symptoms are highly prevalent in western Turkey.

Objective: This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the influence of the education provided to the caregivers of bedridden patients in accordance with the Ausubel's expository teaching strategy on the patients and the caregivers. Material and Methods: The randomized controlled intervention study included 132 patients (66 males and 66 females) in intervention group and 132 patients in control group and their family caregivers. In the first stage, the healthcare professionals for home care were given en education. In the second stage, 20-hour training intervention was carried out as expository within the frame of requirements determined for family caregivers. The control group was included in the routine program within the scope of home care service. The efficiency of these interventions was evaluated by using knowledge test of bedridden patient care, Zarit burden interview, inventory on evaluation of care provided by family members, pressure sore risk definition form (Braden Scale), and geriatric depression scale (GDS). Results: Intervention and control groups were found to be similar with regard to the parameters measured in pre-test. It was determined that after the training intervention, the caregivers had an increased knowledge level of bedridden patient care (p<0,001), their care burden significantly decreased (p<0.001), the efficiency of care provided by the family members was significant in favor of the interventiongroup (p<0.05),risk level of pressure sores of the patients was lower in the intervention group compared to control group (p<0.05), the median value of geriatric depression in bedridden patients decreased from 18 to 15 in intervention group, and their depression symptoms decreased (p<0.05).Conclusion: The education given as expository to family caregivers of bedridden patients was effective in increasing the caregiving competence, reducing the care burden, increasing the caregiving knowledge level, reducing the pressure risk and decreasing depression level of the patients.