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Table 3 Suggestions from participants

From: The emotional impact of urinary tract infections in women: a qualitative analysis

Participant comments

Authors’ notes

Participants wanted to improve their knowledge of how to reduce the likelihood of a uUTI, their awareness of symptoms, and their understanding of when to seek medical intervention

We hope all clinicians welcome patients’ desire for better understanding of this common condition, addressed through the patient consultation

Participants wanted more accurate antibiotic prescribing, which they felt would avoid the frustration of losing time during initial unsuccessful treatment. Participants believed better testing would allow physicians to choose an effective antibiotic for initial treatment

Patients with risk factors for a uUTI caused by an antibiotic-resistant organism may require a different empirical approach. Conducting a urine culture and susceptibility test for appropriate patients more likely to have a uUTI caused by an antibiotic-resistant pathogen before empirical treatment will help appropriately guide subsequent treatment. In addition, prior culture results (i.e., speciation, susceptibilities) and local outpatient-specific antibiograms can help guide treatment for UTI [25]

When communicating with their HCP, participants wanted to be better informed about the possible antibiotic side effects and they wanted better understanding of antibiotic resistance as it applies to their own infection

These requests further illustrate the importance of providing patient education at each visit

Participants desired greater efficiency in HCP interactions. In particular, they wanted an easier and more convenient way to obtain a prescription, ideally over the phone if the infection is recurrent or previously treated

In some clinics, resistance to first-line antibiotics is high, so urine culture is needed to prescribe the appropriate antibiotic. Approaches can be tailored to patient circumstances, but our participants’ comments again highlight the need to educate patients about why an office visit and urine testing may be needed

  1. DE Germany, HCP healthcare professional, US United States, uUTI uncomplicated urinary tract infection