Abstract
Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the commonest bacterial infections in general practice, with urine testing a frequent feature of its management. Urinary dipsticks are widely used, with urine culture the reference standard test. To avoid contamination, patients are advised to discard the first part of the urine stream, retaining the midstream part for the sample. This process, however, can be challenging both to explain and to perform. There is a lack of literature investigating women’s perceptions and understanding of urine sampling. Aim: We aimed to explore women’s understanding of urine collection, sample contamination, and how information from samples informed UTI management. Design and Setting: This was a qualitative study embedded in a UK randomised controlled trial (RCT) of urinary collection devices (UCDs) among women attending primary care with a suspected UTI. Method: We conducted semi-structured, telephone interviews with 29 women participating in the RCT. The interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. Results: Women were not always aware about what midstream samples were and why they were preferable. They also lacked understanding about how urine samples may be contaminated, and sources of contamination. Among our participants, we also found variability in the information they received following analysis of their samples. Conclusion: Provision of clear information could help provide better samples which will aid diagnosis of UTIs, with greater clarity around results and less need for repeat samples. Sharing of information derived from uncontaminated samples may also support better UTI management, helping to reduce unnecessary prescribing and antibiotic resistance.
- Received October 4, 2021.
- Accepted December 14, 2022.
- Copyright © 2022, The Authors
This article is Open Access: CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)