Experiences and Quality of Life Impacts Related to Urinary Tract Infections in Veterans With Neurogenic Bladder: A Mixed Methods Study

Aims Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common long‐term complications in people with neurogenic bladder (NB). However, there are limited data on how UTIs impact different aspects of quality of life (QoL) in people with NB. Our objective was to understand UTI‐related QoL impacts in Veterans with NB. Methods Twenty‐three Veterans with NB and UTI diagnoses in the prior year participated in focus groups to share their perceptions of and experiences with UTIs including QoL impacts. Transcripts were coded using inductive and deductive reasoning. A patient survey was also developed using items modified from existing surveys validated for people with NB and new items generated by the study team using the focus group data. Qualitative results on QoL impacts from focus groups were integrated with the quantitative survey data to provide a more comprehensive understanding of UTI‐related QoL impacts in people with NB. Results UTIs most significantly impacted daily activities, primarily by impairing mobility and restricting independence which led to more limited participation in social, family, and leisure activities. Psychological impacts were more prominent in the focus groups than the survey data. Conclusions Results suggest that people with NB may experience substantial QoL impacts from UTIs, and patient‐centered interventions may be needed to decrease the impact of UTIs.