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Bradway, C., Moriarty, H., Bunting-Perry, L., & Robinson, J.P. (2018). Caring for men with lower urinary tract symptoms and Parkinson's disease: Coping experiences of female spouses. Urologic Nursing, 38(3), 113-120. doi:10.7257/1053-816X.2018.38.3.113
Many individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). These symptoms can be distressing for patients; family caregivers also identify the negative impact on their quality of life. This study describes coping experiences of female spouse caregivers of male veterans with PD and LUTS, and adds to what is already known about the PD caregiving experience by including a specific focus on LUTS.
Key Words: Lower urinary tract symptoms, family caregivers, Parkinson's disease, coping, symptom management, veterans.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive, incurable, disabling neurologic disorder involving degeneration of the substantia nigra (Mosley, Moodie, & Dissanayaka, 2017). The prevalence of PD increases with age (greater than 300/100,000 for those over age 50 years) and affects at least one million individuals in the United States (Parkinson's Foundation, n.d.; Pringsheim, Jette, Frolkis, & Steeves, 2014). Motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, and resting tremor, are defining characteristics of PD. In the last 10 years, there has been increased attention and understanding of the autonomic nonmotor symptoms of PD (constipation, urinary dysfunction, sexual dysfunction) (Brucker & Kalra, 2017). Quality of life (QOL) for persons with PD is negatively impacted by both the motor and non-motor symptoms of PD (Blackett, Walker, & Wood, 2009; Rahman, Griffin, Quinn, & Jahanshahi, 2008). The focus of this article is on male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), one of the urologic, non-motor symptoms of PD (Fowler, Dalton, & Panicker, 2010).
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
The International Continence Society (ICS) (2005) defines LUTS as symptoms resulting from diseases and/or conditions affecting the bladder and urethra. LUTS include a wide variety of symptoms categorized as storage (overChristine active bladder, pain, stress urinary incontinence [UI]), voiding (slow/ interrupted stream, urinary hesitancy, dribbling), or post-void (dribbling, incomplete bladder emptying) (ICS, 2005). It is beyond the scope of this article to address individually all components of each LUTS; however, in general, voiding, storage, and post-void LUTS are highly prevalent among men over age 40 years (72.3%) and negatively impact QOL (Coyne et al.,...