While the Actionable Bladder Symptom and Screening Tool (ABSST) is valuable in identifying multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with urinary symptoms, other barriers beyond awareness exist and prevent patients from being evaluated, a recent study found. Researchers conducted a prospective observational study of 100 patients from an MS center who completed demographic information, questions to assess barriers to care, a short form of the ABSST, and incontinence questionnaires. They found:

• The most common barrier to seeking care included “Doctor never referred” (16%) and “Doctor never asked” (13%).

• 38% (n=8/21) of men stated “Doctor never referred” compared to 10% (n=8/79) of women.

• 27 patients had an ABSST Score ≥ 3 and were more interested in seeing a specialist compared to those scoring < 3 (88.9%, n=24/27 vs 26% n=19/73).

• After 1 year, 70 patients were reached for follow-up; 57.9% (n=11/19) patients who followed up for evaluation screened positive on the ABSST.

Citation: Brucker BM, Nitti VW, Kalra S, Herbert J, et al. Barriers experienced by patients with multiple sclerosis in seeking care for lower urinary tract symptoms. [Published online ahead of print August 22, 2016]. Neurourol Urodyn. doi: 10.1002/nau.23101.