Lai U Chong, Wun Yuk Tsan, Luo Tze Chao, Pang Sai Meng
Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Asia Pac Fam Med. 2011 Jun 8;10(1):7. doi: 10.1186/1447-056X-10-7.
The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) varies among different populations but the rate of seeking medical advice is consistently low. Little is known about the reasons for this low rate. In the city of Macau, China, primary healthcare is free and easily accessible to all citizens. We aim to study the patients' rate of consulting for LUTS and their reasons for not consulting under a free healthcare system.
A convenience sample of 549 male patients aged 40-85 years in a government health centre filled in the International Prostate Symptoms Scale (IPSS) questionnaire. They were also asked if they had consulted doctors for LUTS, and if not, why not.
Of the whole sample, 64 men (11.7%) had ever consulted doctors for LUTS. Of 145 with moderate to severe LUTS, 35 (24.1%) consulted. Of 73 who were dissatisfied with their quality of life, 22 (30.1%) consulted. Regarding the symptoms as normal or not problematic was the main reason for not consulting. Advancing age and duration of symptoms were the significant factors for consulting.
Primary care doctors could help many of LUTS patients by sensitively initiating the discussion when these patients consult for other problems.
下尿路症状（LUTS）在不同人群中的患病率有所不同，但寻求医疗建议的比例一直很低。对于这种低比例的原因知之甚少。在中国澳门，所有公民均可免费且便捷地获得初级医疗保健服务。我们旨在研究在免费医疗保健系统下，LUTS患者的咨询率及其不咨询的原因。
在一家政府健康中心，对549名年龄在40 - 85岁的男性患者进行便利抽样，让他们填写国际前列腺症状评分量表（IPSS）问卷。还询问他们是否曾就LUTS咨询过医生，若未咨询，原因是什么。
在整个样本中，64名男性（11.7%）曾就LUTS咨询过医生。在145名有中度至重度LUTS的患者中，35名（24.1%）咨询过。在73名对生活质量不满意的患者中，22名（30.1%）咨询过。将症状视为正常或无问题是不咨询的主要原因。年龄增长和症状持续时间是咨询的重要因素。
当LUTS患者因其他问题就诊时，初级保健医生通过敏锐地开启相关讨论，可以帮助许多此类患者。
