Primary care practitioners' experiences managing urinary tract infections: a qualitative evidence synthesis.
Br J Gen PractOct 1, 2026 (epub)
Henrike Kleuser, Francine Toye, Felix Kannapin et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This qualitative evidence synthesis explored the experiences of primary care practitioners (PCPs) managing urinary tract infections (UTIs) across various international settings. The study included 32 qualitative studies with 677 PCPs, revealing that while PCPs generally felt confident in managing UTIs, they faced uncertainty with complex cases, particularly with certain patient demographics. The quality of the included studies was rated as high.
Key findings
- PCPs expressed confidence in managing UTIs but faced uncertainty with complex cases, termed 'patient X'.
- Chronic underfunding and staff shortages complicated UTI management in primary care.
- The relationship between PCPs and patients significantly influenced management decisions regarding antibiotic treatment.
Why it matters
Understanding PCPs' experiences in managing UTIs can inform strategies to improve care delivery, particularly in addressing the complexities of treatment decisions and the impact of systemic healthcare challenges.