The correlation between symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and the quality of life: A field study

Abstract

Is there any correlation between symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and quality of life in men aged 40 years and over? This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the BPH symptoms and the quality of life and to determine the views and attitudes about this disease. BPH is one of the most common health problems in men and adversely affects the quality of life. The study was conducted in 2016 by using quantitative and qualitative research methods. The data were collected using the Information Form, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy Quality of Life Scale (BPH-QLS) and the Semi-structured Interview Form. While quantitative data were assessed by numbers, percentages, chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's correlation coefficient, qualitative data were assessed using content analysis. There was a statistically significant correlation between BPH-QLS score and age, educational level, presence of micturition problem and the state of applying to health institution (P < 0.005). A positive correlation was found between IPSS and BPH-QLS (Spearman's r = 0.695, P = 0.000). When qualitative data were evaluated, views such as “identification of the disease as virility or sexual inability,” “feeling of embarrassment about the disease,” “being hesitant to be examined” and “seeming unnecessary to pay a fee to be examined” were determined. In this context, it is recommended for public health nurses to conduct population-based studies on BPH.