Abstract Body

Background and purpose

General practitioners (GPs) are the first physician to be consulted by parents with a child with daytime urinary incontinence (DUI). Because a guideline for DUI is lacking, GPs plan treatment without clear guidance. This also includes referral to urologists or pediatricians. We explored the GPs approach of children with DUI, including referrals.

Methods

We invited GPs who referred one or more children aged 4-18 years with DUI between January 2018 and September 2019 to a secondary care hospital, to complete a questionnaire, which consisted of patient-specific questions about the referred child, general questions about the management of DUI, and questions about the GPs themselves.

Results

Out of 244 questionnaires, 118 (48.4%) were returned by 94 different GPs. The main reasons for referral were the explicit wish of the child/parents (44.9%), and persistent symptoms despite treatment by the GP (39.0%). Most GPs took a history and performed any form of diagnostics before referral, with urine tests (61.0%) and physical examinations (49.2%) being most common. Treatment consisted mostly of life style advices; medication was started in 17.8% of cases. Most children were referred to the pediatrician (n=99, 83.9%). GPs stated they only refer to the urologist in specific situations.

Conclusions

Children with DUI are most often referred to a pediatrician, following diagnostics performed by the GP, but often without any treatment provided. The explicit wish of the child and/or parents is the most common reason for referral.