The Effect of Nursing Intervention on Knowledge and Preventionof Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections among the Elderly

Abstract

Background:Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in the elderly individual and frequently result in more serious and sometimes fatal consequences.Poor knowledge is risk factor for urinary tract infections recurrent among elderly individual.

 Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nursing intervention on knowledge and preventionof recurrent urinary tract infections among the elderly.

Design& Setting: The quasi- experimental study was conducted in the urology outpatient clinics at Zagazig University Hospitals.

 Sample:A purposive sample of 150 elderly individuals with UTIs was divided into a study group (n=75), which received both standard care and nursing intervention about self-care practices for preventing recurrent urinary tract infections, and a control group (n=75), which received only the standard care protocol.

Tools:Two tools were used;A Structured Interview Questionnaire on Demographic Characteristic, and Knowledge, and Risk Assessment and Manifestation of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection.

Results: The study findings showed statistically significant improvements, with 6.7% having total satisfactory knowledge pre-intervention, and an impressive 85.3% and 82.7% achieving total satisfactory knowledge in the post-test and follow-up, respectively. In comparison, the control group had only 5.3% with total satisfactory knowledge pre-intervention, and only 6.7% and 5.3% with total satisfactory knowledge in the post-test and follow-up, respectively.In addition,after the posttest, 6.7% of the study group had a total high risk, 13.3% had a total moderate risk, and 80% had a total low risk. In contrast, 50.7% of the control group had a total high risk, 33.3% had a total moderate risk, and 16% had a total low risk.

Conclusion: Both the study and control groups exhibited an overall deficiency in knowledge levels and an increase in associated risks and manifestations related to recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) during the pre-intervention phase. However, post-intervention results provide evidence confirming the effectiveness of the nursing intervention in significantly enhancing overall knowledge, andreducing associated risks and manifestations among the elderly in the study group.

Recommendations:Periodically assess nursing interventions and monitor high-risk groups for recurring urinary tract infection through feedback, surveys, and follow-up screenings.Design and distribute educational materials about UTI prevention to high-risk patients in urology departments, including printed handouts and colored brochures.