Andrew Flower1, David Winters2, Felicity L Bishop3, George Lewith4. 1. 1Research Fellow,Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences,University of Southampton,Southampton,Hampshire,UK. 2. 24th Year Medical Student,School of Medicine,University of Southampton,Southampton,Hampshire,UK. 3. 3Lecturer in Health Psychology,University of Southampton,Southampton,Hampshire,UK. 4. 4Professor of Health Research,Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences,University of Southampton,Southampton,Hampshire,UK.
Abstract
AIM: To explore GPs' experiences of managing recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) and their views on the use of herbal medicines for this condition. BACKGROUND: RUTIs are an important problem commonly managed in primary care. Antibiotic prophylaxis is an effective treatment for acute infections but growing microbial resistance, adverse effects, and the lack of sustained long-term benefits mean that novel treatments are required. There are a number of promising reports of herbal medicines being used to treat RUTIs. METHODS: A total of 15 GPs (seven female; aged 34-59 years; in practice from 3 to 31 years) were purposively sampled and took part in semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Data collection and analysis proceeded iteratively to allow emerging themes to inform subsequent interviews. FINDINGS: 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.
AIM: To explore GPs' experiences of managing recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) and their views on the use of herbal medicines for this condition. BACKGROUND: RUTIs are an important problem commonly managed in primary care. Antibiotic prophylaxis is an effective treatment for acute infections but growing microbial resistance, adverse effects, and the lack of sustained long-term benefits mean that novel treatments are required. There are a number of promising reports of herbal medicines being used to treat RUTIs. METHODS: A total of 15 GPs (seven female; aged 34-59 years; in practice from 3 to 31 years) were purposively sampled and took part in semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Data collection and analysis proceeded iteratively to allow emerging themes to inform subsequent interviews. FINDINGS: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.
Entities:
Keywords:
GP experience; Recurrent UTIs; herbal medicine
Authors: Erik W Baars; Eefje Belt-van Zoen; Thomas Breitkreuz; David Martin; Harald Matthes; Tido von Schoen-Angerer; Georg Soldner; Jan Vagedes; Herman van Wietmarschen; Olga Patijn; Merlin Willcox; Paschen von Flotow; Michael Teut; Klaus von Ammon; Madan Thangavelu; Ursula Wolf; Josef Hummelsberger; Ton Nicolai; Philippe Hartemann; Henrik Szőke; Michael McIntyre; Esther T van der Werf; Roman Huber Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2019-02-03 Impact factor: 2.629