Self management for men with lower urinary tract symptoms: randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of self management as a first line intervention for men with lower urinary tract symptoms.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
A teaching hospital and a district general hospital in London.


METHODS
140 men (mean age 63 (SD 10.7) years), recruited between January 2003 and April 2004, referred by general practitioners to urological outpatient departments with uncomplicated lower urinary tract symptoms.


METHODS
Self management and standard care (n=73) or standard care alone (n=67). The self management group took part in three small group sessions comprising education, lifestyle advice, and training in problem solving and goal setting skills.


METHODS
The primary outcome measure was treatment failure measured at 3, 6, and 12 months. Symptom severity (international prostate symptom score; higher scores represent a poorer outcome) was used as a secondary outcome.


RESULTS
At three months, treatment failure had occurred in 7 (10%) of the self management group and in 27 (42%) of the standard care group (difference=32%, 95% confidence interval 18% to 46%). Corresponding differences in the frequency of treatment failure were 42% (27% to 57%) at six months and 48% (32% to 64%) at 12 months. At three months, the mean international prostate symptom score was 10.7 in the self management group and 16.4 in the standard care group (difference=5.7, 3.7 to 7.7). Corresponding differences in score were 6.5 (4.3 to 8.7) at six months and 5.1 (2.7 to 7.6) at 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Self management significantly reduced the frequency of treatment failure and reduced urinary symptoms. Because of the large observed benefit of self management, the results of this study support the case for a large multicentre trial to confirm whether self management could be considered as first line treatment for men with lower urinary tract symptoms.


BACKGROUND
National Research Register N0263115137; Clinical trials NCT00270309 [ClinicalTrials.gov].
Brown
Christian T
CT
Clinical Effectiveness Unit, Royal College of Surgeons of England, London WC2A 3PE. Jan.vanderMeulen@LSHTM.ac.uk
Yap
Tet
T
Cromwell
David A
DA
Rixon
Lorna
L
Steed
Liz
L
Mulligan
Kathleen
K
Mundy
Anthony
A
Newman
Stanton P
SP
van der Meulen
Jan
J
Emberton
Mark
M
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D053448:Prostatism / Q000628:therapy*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome