Determinants of doctor consultation for micturition problems in an elderly male population

• Published in: European urology Vol. 33; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: Wolfs, G G, Knottnerus, J A, Van der Horst, F G, Visser, A P, Janknegt, R A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 1998
• Subjects: Aged; Animals; Attitude to Health; Family Practice; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prostatic Hyperplasia - pathology; Quality of Life; Referral and Consultation; Retrospective Studies; Smoking; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urination Disorders - epidemiology; Urination Disorders - pathology; Urination Disorders - psychology
• ISSN: 0302-2838
• DOI: 10.1159/000019527

To study which factors influence doctor consultation when a subject has micturition problems. Postal questionnaire in an open population of older men (n = 1,695), followed by investigations in 10 general practices, including uroflowmetry. 25% of the men had micturition problems, of which 10-30% presented their symptoms to a doctor. Almost 60% experienced an influence of their micturition habits on activities of daily living. More than 85% of the men were not able to compare their micturition pattern with others. In multiple logistic regression, presentation to a doctor was independently associated with obstructive symptoms, dysuria, men defining their situation as a complaint, depressive mood, more frequent sexual desire and smoking. Many other factors which might play a role in diagnosis and timing of treatment were not found to influence consultation. Most men deal with micturition problems without consulting, although symptoms have a substantial impact on daily life. Consultation was associated with symptoms, psychological factors and smoking.