The challenges of treating women with recurrent urinary tract infections in primary care: a qualitative study of GPs’ experiences of conventional management and their attitudes towards possible herbal options

Abstract

Participants were aware of the disabling effect of RUTIs on women's lives. GPs experienced significant challenges in their management of RUTIs with decisions about the provision of antibiotics being particularly complex. While some participants were open to the possibility of herbal treatment options they required more research into effectiveness and safety, better regulation of herbal practitioners, and assurance about herbal quality control and potential herb-drug interactions.

Recurrent urinary tract infections and complications after symptomatic versus antibiotic treatment: follow-up of a randomised controlled trial

“…Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a widespread disease with a lifetime prevalence of 37%, and a high risk of recurrent UTI as the majority of women (79%) report more than one infection [ 1 ]. Women affected from recurrent UTI perceive this as a burden, and many appreciate a non-antibiotic treatment approach [ 2 ]. Usually, UTI are treated with antibiotics: about 71% of women seeking a health professional receive a prescription.…”

The Contribution of Complementary and Alternative Medicine to Reduce Antibiotic Use: A Narrative Review of Health Concepts, Prevention, and Treatment Strategies

“…Thirdly, the available evidence and knowledge on prevention and treatment strategies are not easily accessible for the target populations (e.g., doctors, pharmacists, patients) [197]. Fourthly, although many patients already use CAM MPs [198, 199] and shared-decision making is promoted in clinical practice, many doctors do not want to prescribe CAM alternatives for antibiotics, due to patient pressure to prescribe antibiotics [200–202], fear of ineffectiveness of CAM treatments [203], lack of knowledge on CAM in general [204], insufficient information on effectiveness and safety, (assumed) insufficient regulation of herbal practitioners, concerns about herbal quality control and potential herb–drug interactions [205, 206], and a lack of communication between doctors and patients about this topic [204, 207].…”

Narratives of Herbal Medicine Utilisation in the United Kingdom: Scoping Literature Review

“…One of those participants mentioned that her doctor was female-this suggests that a female doctor for a female patient might allow a more comfortable environment to discuss HM, or perhaps female doctors could be more open to HM? Flower et al (2015) investigated the attitudes towards HMs by GPs and the management of UTIs in Hampshire, and many were open about their lack of knowledge of HM which would hinder them from utilising herbal remedies. Several concerns were expressed including the lack of regulation, lack of quality assurance, lack of knowledge of herb-drug interactions and lack of clarity of the status of herbal practitioners (Flower et al, 2015).…”