Improving Overactive Bladder Treatment Access and Adherence
United States30 participantsStarted 2024-11-01
Plain-language summary
Overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence (UI) are chronic debilitating and embarrassing conditions that affect 33 million Americans. Yet, both are underdiagnosed and undertreated with significant financial and health-related consequences. OAB syndrome is characterized by urinary urgency, with and without urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, and nocturia. Evidence-based treatments are available, including behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy, and minimally invasive procedures. Diagnosis and treatment are also associated with improvement in urinary symptoms and overall quality of life (QOL).3 However, 70-80% of treated patients will discontinue use of therapy in the first year due to one of several factors (e.g., cost, tolerability, inadequate effect). In addition, only 4.7% progress to advanced therapies suggesting undertreatment for those that need it most. Vulnerable populations are especially at risk, as therapy utilization are lowest among older, lower income, and/or minority groups. Poor access, insufficient patient education regarding disease chronicity, expected outcomes, costs, and potential side effects lead to unrealistic patient perceptions about therapy. This leads to suboptimal therapy duration, poor treatment efficacy, adherence, and undertreatment. The study aims to evaluate a tailored patient-centered tool to begin the treatment process.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Female aged 18 years or older
* OAB symptoms for at least 3 months
* English/Spanish language skills and cognitive status sufficient to complete all study related materials
* Behavioral treatment naïve patients
* Previously treated OAB patients without supervised pelvic floor physical therapy or pharmacotherapy within 1 year
Exclusion Criteria:
* Post void residual urine \> 150ml
* Confirmed diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome (IC/PBS)
* Pregnant or breastfeeding patients
* Patients residing in a nursing home
* Comorbid neurological conditions, including spinal cord injury, progressive neurologic illnesses (e.g. Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease) or central nervous system disease (e.g. brain tumor, stroke)
* Stage 2 or greater pelvic organ prolapse
* Any history of urethral stricture
* Any history of pelvic irradiation
* Any history of bladder malignancy
* Current symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI), unresolved by the time of enrollment
* Hematuria without a clinical evaluation
* History or current use of indwelling urinary foley catheterization, suprapubic tube or intermittent catheterization
* Patients with UI treated with onabotulinumtoxinA, sacral neuromodulation, or percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (third line therapies)
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Systems Usability Scale (SUS)
Timeframe: 12 weeks
2
Bladder Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs (KAB)