護理學系CHEN, FONG-YINGFONG-YINGCHENDAI, YU-TZUYU-TZUDAI陳秀熙2008-12-082018-07-072008-12-082018-07-072007http://ntur.lib.ntu.edu.tw//handle/246246/89548We investigated the perception of nocturia and possible explanatory factors for medical consultation among community -dwelling women. Between October 2004 and February 2005, women aged >= 40 years living in Matsu, Taiwan, who were identified as having nocturia in a previous epidemiological survey, were interviewed with a questionnaire eliciting information about nocturia-specific quality of life impact ( N-QOL), perceptions of nocturia, and medical-consultation behavior. A total of 328 women completed this study. Of these, 187 (57%), 99 (30.2%), 30 (9.1%), and 12 (3.7%) reported one, two, three, and four or more nocturia episodes , respectively, per night during the past 4 weeks. Most women attributed nocturia to aging or excessive fluid intake and had a lack of medical information. Overall, only 13.1% had visited a doctor for this condition. Nocturia episodes [ >= three vs < three, odds ratio (OR) 3.8], N-QOL score (OR 2 .0, per 10-point decrement), linking nocturia to a disease ( OR 2.9 ), and medical information (OR 2.2) were independent factors associated with medical-consultation, whereas the lack of knowledge that nocturia was treatable appeared to be an important barrier to medical-consultation. Only 62.8% of the women were offered treatment upon consultation, even though nearly half of those treated reported significant improvement. A few women with nocturia have sought medical help, which appears to be affected by a compendium of factors. This study suggests that more information about nocturia should be provided to health providers and patients to identify and meet their most essential needs.en-USnocturiaperceptiontreatment seeking