The mediating role of illness perceptions in psychological outcomes in overactive bladder

This study aimed to examine the quality of life, relationships, sexual functioning, psychological wellbeing and illness perceptions of individuals with OAB after they have received treatment. And to determine whether an individual's psychological wellbeing is directly related to the severity of their symptoms, or whether their illness perceptions mediate this relationship. This study used a cross‐sectional, questionnaire‐based quantitative design with a secondary care outpatient sample who were diagnosed with OAB and had been either previously or currently prescribed drug treatment. Patients reported moderately severe OAB symptoms, with approximately a third reporting moderate/severe anxiety and 12% reporting severe depression. There was no direct relationship between symptom severity and psychological wellbeing (β = −0·03, t(31) = −0·96, p = 0·34; β = −0·02, t(31) = −0·41, p = 0·68) – this relationship was mediated by the patient's sense of personal control over their OAB (β = 0·03 (SE = 0·02), 95% CI [0·004, 0·09]; β = 0·02 (SE = 0·02), 95% CI [0·0008, 0·08]). Including interventions to improve personal control alongside drug treatment may improve treatment adherence and outcomes.
Source: International Journal of Urological Nursing - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Research Paper Source Type: research