Abstract
BACKGROUND: This paper focuses on women's subjective experiences with UTIs and antibiotic use. Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infections treated in primary care, however, there is limited evidence regarding the experiences and their antibiotic treatment preferences. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to gather experiences, beliefs, and attitudes regarding the use of antibiotics and the participation in the clinical trial. METHODS: This qualitative sub-study is part of the SCOUT project, which, through a clinical trial, aims to assess the effectiveness of four short antibiotic regimens (a single 3g dose of fosfomycin; 3g of fosfomycin for two days; 400mg of pivmecillinam for three days; and 100mg of nitrofurantoin for five days). A total of 68 semi-structured interviews were conducted in four regions of Spain (Catalonia N=19, Aragón N=19, Madrid N=15, and the Balearic Islands N=15). A purposive and theoretical sampling approach was employed. Participants were recruited after taking part in the clinical trial. Data collection took place between March and July 2024 and analysed using Thematic Analysis. RESULTS: UTI did not cause excessive concern, except in cases where the antibiotic was ineffective or when participants had experienced multiple infections in the past. Fosfomycin was the most widely recognized antibiotic, and the two-dose regimen was generally well-regarded for being easy to take while also being more effective than the single-dose treatment. Longer regimens could cause some side effects, but in certain cases, they were perceived as more effective. Participation in the clinical trial was viewed positively, as it contributed to increasing overall knowledge about UTI and the antibiotics used to treat them, as well as ensuring closer monitoring of each specific case. CONCLUSION: This study gathers experiences related to UTI, antibiotic treatment regimens, and participation in the SCOUT clinical trial. It highlights the need to document the realities of UTI in order to improve future clinical trials.