Public knowledge, self-management and advice-seeking for lower urinary tract symptoms and nocturia: findings from a national UK cross-sectional survey
Author(s)
El-Osta, Austen
Altalib, Sami
Riboli-Sasco, Eva
Rees, Jonathan
Drake, Marcus J
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objectives To determine the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and nocturia, public knowledge of associated risk factors, self-management practices and advice-seeking behaviours among community-dwelling adults in the UK, as well as to examine the sociodemographic correlates of these outcomes.
Design A cross-sectional online survey.
Setting Community based, UK.
Participants 2062 UK adults accessed the survey; 2012 provided complete sociodemographic data for analysis (50.2% female, 49.8% male; 81.7% white, 9.4% Asian/Asian British; aged 18–65+ years); convenience sampling via online panels and networks, with informed consent.
Interventions None (observational survey study).
Primary and secondary outcome measures Prevalence of LUTS/nocturia; awareness of symptoms/risk factors; self-management strategies; advice sources; demographic associations.
Results Among all respondents, 52.7% reported experiencing nocturia, with 42.2% having symptoms nightly and 47.1% waking at least twice per night. While 90.5% recognised fluid intake before bed as a cause, knowledge of other risk factors (eg, cardiovascular disease, salt intake, sleep disorders) was limited. Nearly half (43.2%) of those with symptoms had never sought advice; only 27% sought professional input. Online resources (eg, National Health Service website, Google) were consulted more frequently than healthcare professionals. Age, sex, ethnicity, long-term condition status and disability were associated with variations in awareness and advice-seeking behaviours.
Conclusions Nocturia is highly prevalent, but advice-seeking is quite low. While awareness of behavioural contributors is relatively good, several contributing medical conditions and other health-related factors were less known. These findings highlight a need for national health literacy campaigns focused on specific risk factors, evidence-based self-care tools and greater professional engagement. Addressing these gaps can normalise discussions about bladder health, reduce stigma and improve early detection and management of LUTS in the community.
Design A cross-sectional online survey.
Setting Community based, UK.
Participants 2062 UK adults accessed the survey; 2012 provided complete sociodemographic data for analysis (50.2% female, 49.8% male; 81.7% white, 9.4% Asian/Asian British; aged 18–65+ years); convenience sampling via online panels and networks, with informed consent.
Interventions None (observational survey study).
Primary and secondary outcome measures Prevalence of LUTS/nocturia; awareness of symptoms/risk factors; self-management strategies; advice sources; demographic associations.
Results Among all respondents, 52.7% reported experiencing nocturia, with 42.2% having symptoms nightly and 47.1% waking at least twice per night. While 90.5% recognised fluid intake before bed as a cause, knowledge of other risk factors (eg, cardiovascular disease, salt intake, sleep disorders) was limited. Nearly half (43.2%) of those with symptoms had never sought advice; only 27% sought professional input. Online resources (eg, National Health Service website, Google) were consulted more frequently than healthcare professionals. Age, sex, ethnicity, long-term condition status and disability were associated with variations in awareness and advice-seeking behaviours.
Conclusions Nocturia is highly prevalent, but advice-seeking is quite low. While awareness of behavioural contributors is relatively good, several contributing medical conditions and other health-related factors were less known. These findings highlight a need for national health literacy campaigns focused on specific risk factors, evidence-based self-care tools and greater professional engagement. Addressing these gaps can normalise discussions about bladder health, reduce stigma and improve early detection and management of LUTS in the community.
Date Issued
2026-08-01
Date Acceptance
2026-06-09
Citation
BMJ Open, 2026, 16 (8)
ISSN
2044-6055
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Journal / Book Title
BMJ Open
Volume
16
Issue
8
Copyright Statement
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/42648774
PII: bmjopen-2026-117157
Subjects
Adult urology
Epidemiology
Neuro-urology
PUBLIC HEALTH
Humans
Female
Cross-Sectional Studies
Middle Aged
Nocturia
United Kingdom
Adult
Male
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Aged
Adolescent
Young Adult
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Self-Management
Risk Factors
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Article Number
e117157
Date Publish Online
2026-08-26