Reviewed by Barry Rittmann, MD, MPH, Virginia Commonwealth University
A recent article from the British Medical Journal assessed the effectiveness in standardized and manualized interventions in primary care settings to reduce lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men. In this RTC performed between June 2018 and August 2019, 1077 men with LUTS were evaluated, divided between 524 in the intervention arm, and 553 in the usual care arm. Those in the intervention group were given a standardized information booklet providing guidance on conservative and lifestyle interventions for men with LUTS. The patients were directed to relevant sections of the manual based on their initial assessment and provided contact over the next 12 weeks to assist with adherence. The primary outcome was to measure the patient reported International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) after 12 months. Those in the treatment group were found to have a significant reduction of -1.81 points (-0.95 to -2.66 95% CI) compared to the usual care group at 12 months.
Reference:
Drake MJ, Worthington J, Frost J, Sanderson E, Cochrane M, Cotterill N, Fader M, McGeagh L, Hashim H, Macaulay M, Rees J, Robles LA, Taylor G, Taylor J, Ridd MJ, MacNeill SJ, Noble S, Lane JA. Treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in men in primary care using a conservative intervention: cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2023 Nov 15;383:e075219. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2023-075219. PMID: 37967894; PMCID: PMC10646682.