Navigating lower urinary tract symptoms and nocturia care in the UK: patient experiences and gaps in clinical assessment and management among help-seeking adults—a cross-sectional study
Author(s)
El-Osta, Austen
Altalib, Sami
Riboli-Sasco, Eva
Drake, Marcus J
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objectives To investigate real-world healthcare experiences of individuals in the UK who consulted health and care professionals for nocturia. The study explored the assessments, management strategies, referrals and follow-up patterns received by patients experiencing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs), as well as their level of satisfaction with those. The association of sociodemographic factors with these patterns was also analysed.
Design A cross-sectional online survey.
Setting Community-based, UK.
Participants From 2012 completers, 453 (22.5%) reported consulting healthcare professionals for LUTS (55.0% female, 75.5% White; aged 18–65+ years; convenience sampling via online panels/networks).
Interventions None (observational survey study).
Primary and secondary outcome measures Healthcare provider consulted; assessments (eg, history, bladder diary, examinations, tests); management (eg, behavioural, pharmacological); referrals/follow-up; satisfaction; associations via χ2 tests.
Results Among 453 respondents who sought professional advice for LUTS, 211 reported nocturia and 143 had nocturia confirmed through the survey’s follow-up questions. General practitioners were the most consulted providers (73.1%), but guideline-recommended tools such as bladder diaries were underutilised (13.9%). Only 12.1% were referred to specialists. Satisfaction with care was mixed: 59% were satisfied with assessment and 54% with treatment, but dissatisfaction was common around referrals, follow-up and cause explanation. Long-term conditions and disability were associated with greater unmet needs. Participants consistently called for more accessible information, clinician training and better self-management support.
Conclusions These findings suggest that patients’ reported experiences of assessment and management varied, which may reflect differences in actual practice, recall or communication during consultations, particularly in relation to nocturia. However, because the data are cross-sectional and self-reported, these results should be interpreted cautiously. They highlight areas where patient assessment, communication and follow-up could potentially be improved.
Design A cross-sectional online survey.
Setting Community-based, UK.
Participants From 2012 completers, 453 (22.5%) reported consulting healthcare professionals for LUTS (55.0% female, 75.5% White; aged 18–65+ years; convenience sampling via online panels/networks).
Interventions None (observational survey study).
Primary and secondary outcome measures Healthcare provider consulted; assessments (eg, history, bladder diary, examinations, tests); management (eg, behavioural, pharmacological); referrals/follow-up; satisfaction; associations via χ2 tests.
Results Among 453 respondents who sought professional advice for LUTS, 211 reported nocturia and 143 had nocturia confirmed through the survey’s follow-up questions. General practitioners were the most consulted providers (73.1%), but guideline-recommended tools such as bladder diaries were underutilised (13.9%). Only 12.1% were referred to specialists. Satisfaction with care was mixed: 59% were satisfied with assessment and 54% with treatment, but dissatisfaction was common around referrals, follow-up and cause explanation. Long-term conditions and disability were associated with greater unmet needs. Participants consistently called for more accessible information, clinician training and better self-management support.
Conclusions These findings suggest that patients’ reported experiences of assessment and management varied, which may reflect differences in actual practice, recall or communication during consultations, particularly in relation to nocturia. However, because the data are cross-sectional and self-reported, these results should be interpreted cautiously. They highlight areas where patient assessment, communication and follow-up could potentially be improved.
Date Issued
2026-08-01
Date Acceptance
2026-07-17
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/42648773
PII: bmjopen-2026-117159
Subjects
Adult urology
Kidney & urinary tract disorders
Neuro-urology
Humans
Female
Cross-Sectional Studies
Nocturia
Middle Aged
Adult
United Kingdom
Male
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Aged
Referral and Consultation
Young Adult
Adolescent
Patient Satisfaction
Surveys and Questionnaires
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Article Number
e117159
Date Publish Online
2026-08-26