Understanding the basic assessment and treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in older women
Intended for healthcare professionals
CPD    

Understanding the basic assessment and treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in older women

Faisal Karim Doctor (registrar), obstetrics and gynaecology, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, England
Angela Rantell Lead nurse urogynaecology/nurse cystoscopist, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To be able to identify the various types of lower urinary tract symptoms in older women

  • To confidently assess and treat lower urinary tract symptoms in older women

  • To count towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD, or you may wish to write a reflective account (UK readers)

  • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers)

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are prevalent in older women. These symptoms are often under-reported due to the potentially embarrassing nature of the symptoms and a belief that they are an inevitable consequence of ageing. LUTS such as urinary incontinence have a significant negative effect on people’s quality of life; however, with the appropriate assessment and management, improvements can be achieved. This article reviews the different types of LUTS and their causes, assessment and treatment, focusing on older women. It aims to provide nurses with an understanding of LUTS so that they can identify appropriate interventions.

Nursing Older People. doi: 10.7748/nop.2021.e1305

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

faiskarim@outlook.com

Conflict of interest

None declared

Karim F, Rantell A (2021) Understanding the basic assessment and treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in older women. Nursing Older People. doi: 10.7748/nop.2021.e1305

Published online: 08 September 2021

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