Toll-free telephone medical information on nocturnal enuresis: the first Italian experience over a two-year period.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study is to promote, through this toll-free number (TFN) service, a health communication program providing information on nocturnal enuresis (NE) and related problems by a subspecialty-trained physician and to collect the callers' characteristics too. All phone calls were scheduled to data collections.

METHODS

The telephone service operated as follows: the TFN was available from March 1 to May 31, 2000, and from April 1 to June 30, 2001. People called the free telephone line and received information needs.

RESULTS

A total of 12,806 calls were received by the help line during the two study periods (7,046 in 2000 and 5,760 in 2001). Of the calls, 61% came from subjects with NE without pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment, 16% (2000) and 13% (2001) came from subjects >12 years old.

CONCLUSIONS

A TFN for NE can be both accessible and effective in order to provide information on NE and related problems. Finally, such a service should be included in a national program to improve health and well-being.