title: Older women's experiences of suffering from urinary tract infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe and explore older women's experiences of having had repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  UTIs are one of the most common bacterial infections among older women. Approximately one-third of very old women suffer from at least one UTI each year. Despite the high incidence of UTI, little is known about the impact of UTI on health and daily life in older women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative descriptive design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with 20 Swedish women aged 67-96 years who suffered from repeated UTIs the preceding year. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two main themes were identified: being in a state of manageable suffering and depending on alleviation. Being in a state of manageable suffering was described in terms of experiencing physical and psychological health problems, struggling to deal with the illness and being restricted in daily life. Depending on alleviation was illustrated in terms of having access to relief but also receiving inadequate care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that UTIs are a serious health problem among older women that not only affects both physical and mental health but also has serious social consequences. The women in this study described the physical and psychological health problems, struggling to deal with the illness, being restricted in daily life, depending on access to relief and receiving inadequate care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to improve the knowledge about how UTI affects the health of older women. This knowledge may help nurses develop strategies to support these women. One important part in the supportive strategies is that nurses can educate these women in self-care.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olofsson
authors.forename: Yngve
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: Lisbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fagerström
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D012648:Self Care; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D014932:Women's Health Services
keywords: experience; nursing; older women; urinary tract infection