Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Nurse-Led Continence Care Treatments for Chinese Primary Care Patients with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate whether community-based nurse-led continence care interventions are effective in improving outcomes for adult Chinese primary care patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).Research Design and SubjectsA case-controlled intervention study was conducted. An intervention group of 360 primary care patients enrolled into a nurse-led continence care programme were recruited by consecutive sampling. A control group of 360 primary care patients with LUTS identified by screening were recruited from the waiting rooms of primary care clinics by consecutive sampling. Both groups were monitored at baseline and at 12 months.MeasuresOutcome measures included symptom severity, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), self-efficacy, global health and self-reported health service utilization at 12-months. The effect of the continence care programme on symptom severity and HRQOL was assessed by the difference-in-difference estimation, using independent t-test and multiple liner regression. Chi-square test was used to compare the self-efficacy, global health and self-reported health service utilization between the two groups at 12-months.ResultsAfter adjusting for baseline severity and socio-demographics, the intervention group had significant improvements in LUTS severity (P<0.05) and HRQOL (P<0.05). Improvements in the amount of urine leakage were not significantly different between the two groups. A higher proportion of subjects in the intervention group reported increased self-efficacy (43.48% vs. 66.83%), improved global health condition (17.74% vs. 41.5%), having doctor consultation (18.5% vs. 8.06), having medication due to LUTS (26.50% vs.11.29%) and having non-drug therapy due to LUTS (59.5% vs.9.68%).ConclusionsCommunity-based nurse-led continence care can effectively alleviate symptoms, improve health-related quality of life, and enhance self-efficacy and the global health condition of Chinese male and female primary care patients with LUTS.

Evaluation of the outcomes of care of nurse‐led continence care clinics for Chinese patients with lower urinary tract symptoms, a 2‐year prospective longitudinal study

“…The findings of the study supplements our earlier work which evaluated the effectiveness of the programme over 12 months (Choi et al . ). Our findings helps to strengthen the evidence to support the effectiveness and sustainability of community‐based nursed led care in improving LUTS severity, HRQOL, general health perception and patient enablement over two years.…”

“…The intervention sites were independent of the researcher undertaking the evaluation research and have been previously described (Choi et al . ).…”

“…All new patients with LUTS were recruited by consecutive sampling from the NAHC‐CC appointments list and received nurse‐led continence care (Choi et al . ).…”

“…The programme was found to be effective in alleviating LUTS severity, improving HRQOL, enhancing patient enablement and general health perception in males and females compared with usual care (Choi et al . ).…”

“…Interventions may include conservative treatments such as pelvic floor muscle exercise, urethral massage (for males), bladder training and diet modification (Choi et al . ).…”