Prevalence of urinary incontinence in adults who visited family practice clinics: cheonan practice-based research network study

BACKGROUND: Although urinary incontinence is a common problem, its prevalence and severity in community is not well established. The main objects of this study were to define the prevalence in adult men and women who came to a primary care office for health care. METHODS: Men and women aged 20 years and over who came to family physician's offices seeking health care for any reason during an 2-week period were the subjects of a survey by anonymous questionnaire. Ten family practice offices in Cheonan Practice-Based Research Network participated. We defined "current significant urinary incontinence" as aver any degree of annoying incontinence in the past 12 months. RESULTS: Of the 1,130 responders, 46.3% experienced urinary incontinence. Incontinence was experienced by 26.7% of the men and 50.2% of the women. 'Current significant urinary incontinence' was experienced by 3.7% of the men and 10.12% of the women. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary incontinence is a common problem among those seen in primary care settings, and patients hesitate to seek cansultation of their problems with physicians. Therefore, family physicians should deal with the symptoms of incontinence more attentively during history taking.

Use of Traditional Medicine and Folk Remedies in Hypertensive Patients: based on Cheonan Practice- Based Research Network

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a chronic disorder that causes various complications. It needs proper pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment. But, other studies show there are many traditional and folk remedies about hypertension in Korea. This study was designed to show behavioral patterns of outcomes and side effects of folk remedies in practice-based network. METHODS: The study subjects were hypertensive patients visited practice-based network from September to December In 1996. Data were collected through questionnaire about sociodemographic features of patients and types, effect, frequency, and side effects of folk remedies. RESULTS: The responders totalled 160 patients, and those who have tried traditional medicine or folk remedies were 65 patients(27 men and 38 women cases). Information source about remedies were 'family members or friends' in 53.8%, 'TV, magazines, and newspapers' in 13.8%, and 'books that deal with health information' in 3.1%. There were 22 experienced remedies , the most common remedy was herb medicine. In subjective judgement about anti-hypertensive effect, 6 cases described as 'very effective', 21 as 'somewhat effective', 14 as 'not effective', 17 as 'not sure'. 10(15.3%) of 65 cases experienced side effects. CONCLUSIONS: 40.6% of total responders used traditional or folk remedies, and 15.3% of them experienced side effects. 9.2% of them told that their remedies were 'very effective'. Physicians need to inform patients of side effects of folk remedies and adequate management of hypertension.