Frequency volume chart for the illiterate population: A simple solution

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to assess the feasibility of a novel method of recording frequency volume chart (FVC) in adult patients who are either illiterate or are unable to make the required written record. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included adult patients, in whom FVC was required as part of their urological evaluation, who were either illiterate or were not sufficiently literate to make the required written record. Three groups of people were involved in the study: (i) patient, (ii) nursing staff, and (iii) the investigator/coinvestigator. The investigator/coinvestigator briefed the patient and the nursing staff, separately, regarding their roles in detail. The patient-reported (investigator/coinvestigator interpreted) data were compared with the data recorded by the nursing staff to assess the feasibility of this novel method. Results: A total of 30 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 45.1 years and male: female ratio of 2:1. The patient-reported (investigator/coinvestigator interpreted) data including 24-h urine production, daytime urine volume, nocturnal urine volume, daytime urinary frequency, nocturia, average voided volume, and maximum voided volume were similar to the data reported by the nursing staff, with no significant differences. All patients completed the FVC satisfactorily, except one patient who failed to report the night time voids. Conclusions: Our novel method of recording FVC is feasible, reliable, and clinically as informative/applicable as the written FVC in patients who are illiterate/insufficiently literate to make a written record of FVC.