title: How women manage recurrent urinary tract infections: an analysis of postings on a popular web forum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) are commonly presented by women in primary care. In order to explore the poorly described experience of women with RUTIs a qualitative study was conducted that analysed data from a publically accessible internet-based self-help forum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative Description was used to analyse the text with an emphasis on using the naturalistic language of the informants to portray their perceptions and experiences of RUTIs. Individual codes were identified inductively and grouped according to common ideas into related categories, before being incorporated into five main themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women of diverse ages and geographical location contributed to the website. Themes were identified that vividly explored the atypical symptomatology of RUTIs, the serious impact it had on many aspects of women's lives, different attitudes to treatments options such as antibiotics, the use of unorthodox approaches such as complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and contrasting experiences of medical practitioners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A web-based analysis can vividly capture the views of a diverse population. RUTIs can have a disabling effect on women's health, their intimate and social relationships, self-esteem, and capacity for work. Further research is required to clarify the wider relevance of the qualitative themes identified, to identify key elements of good practice, and to provide a more rigorous assessment of CAM interventions.
authors.affiliation: Complementary and Integrated Medicine Research Unit, University of Southampton, Aldermoor Health Centre, Aldermoor Close, Southampton SO16 5ST, UK. Andrew.Flower@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flower
authors.forename: Felicity L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lewith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D012648:Self Care; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D019529:Sexuality; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents