Group versus Individual Urotherapy for Bladder Dysfunction in School Aged Children (Urotherapy): A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
Principal Investigator: Natasha Brownrigg, RN(EC),MN, Nurse Practitioner-Pediatrics
Co-Investigators: Dr. L. Braga, Dr. J. DeMaria
Research Team: Adrian Smith RN, Michelle Mc Vittie BA, CLSt Dipl. (Child Life),
Sarah Pershick, BA, MA, CLSt Dipl., CCLS
Research Assistants: Kizanee Jegatheeswaran, Melissa Merrow, and Jessie Heaman B.Sc
Current Enrolment Number: 60
Status of Project: Completed and Published
Funded By: Health Professional Investigator Operating Grant Hamilton Health Sciences
Study Summary
The MPSRC conducted this research pilot study in the pediatric urology clinic at McMaster Children’s hospital in children with non-neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) and/or dysfunction elimination syndrome (DES). The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of group urotherapy session versus standard individual urotherapy and to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of this modality by measuring NLUTD/DES symptoms and quality of life.
Children aged 6-10 years old diagnosed with NLUTD/DES were recruited from pediatric urology clinics and randomized to receive either standard individual urotherapy or a one hour group session.
This pilot study has provided new and valuable knowledge on the child’s perception of their condition and the effect of urotherapy on their QOL in addition to providing new knowledge as a controlled trial comparing two urotherapy modalities.
Results showed no difference in symptom scores between patients in individual and group urotherapy sessions at baseline or follow-up. Patients in both intervention groups had significantly-improved symptoms at last follow-up, which suggests that both urotherapy modalities are effective in reducing bladder dysfunction symptoms.
Presentation of Urotherapy Results at AUA 2014
The Urotherapy trial has completed enrollment at 60 patients. The results of the Urotherapy Trial have been accepted as a moderated poster presentation at the 2014 American Urological Association Annual Meeting.
Results demonstrating the feasibility of the Urotherapy trial have previously been presented at the Canadian Urological Association 2013 Annual Meeting, as well as the 1st Annual Southlake Nurse Practitioner Research Conference in Newmarket, Ontario and the "Moving Beyond Pediatric Incontinence" workshop, hosted by the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine Department of Continuing Education and Professional Development.
Resources
Published Article
- Brownrigg N, Pemberton J, Jegatheeswaran K, DeMaria J, Braga LH. A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effectiveness of Group vs Individual Urotherapy in Decreasing Symptoms Associated with Bladder-Bowel Dysfunction. J Urol. 2015 Apr; 193(4):1347-52. doi.10.1016/j.juro.2014.10.049 [Link to full text article]
Published Abstracts
- Brownrigg N, Merrow M, DeMaria J, Pemberton J, Heaman J, Braga LH. Feasibility of Conducting a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Group versus Individual Urotherapy in Children with Bladder Bowel Dysfunction. Can Urol Assoc J. 2013 May-June; 7(5-6Suppl2): S93.
http://www.multiwebcast.com/cua/2013/68th/31366/.
Abstracts Accepted
- Brownrigg N, Pemberton J, Heaman J, Jegatheeswaran K, DeMaria J, Braga LH. More is Not Necessarily Better: A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of group versus individual urotherapy in reducing symptoms associated with bladder dysfunction. Society for Pediatric Urology 62nd Annual meeting. Orlando, Florida. 2014-5-17.
Poster Presentations
- Brownrigg N, Merrow M, DeMaria J, Pemberton J, Heaman J, Braga LH. Feasibility of Conducting a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Group versus Individual Urotherapy in Children with Bladder Bowel Dysfunction. Canadian Urological Association (CUA) 2013 Annual Meeting. Niagara Falls, Ontario. 2013-06-25.
- Brownrigg N, Merrow M, DeMaria J, Pemberton J, Heaman J, Braga LH. Feasibility of Conducting a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Group versus Individual Urotherapy in Children with Bladder Bowel Dysfunction. Moving Beyond Pediatric Incontinence: The Challenges of Transitional Care, University of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario. 2013-6-7.
- Brownrigg N, Braga LH, DeMaria J, Merrow M. Group Versus Individual Urotherapy for Bladder Dysfunction in School Aged Children (Urotherapy): A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. Southlake Nurse Practitioner Research Conference. Newmarket, Canada. 2012-9-21.