Usefulness of classical homeopathy for the prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infections in individuals with chronic neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2019 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2018.1440692 · Published: July 1, 2019

Spinal Cord Injury Alternative Medicine Immunology

Simple Explanation

This study investigated whether classical homeopathy could help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). These patients often have neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), making them prone to UTIs. The study compared a group receiving standard UTI prevention methods with a group receiving standard prevention plus homeopathic treatment. The main goal was to see if homeopathy could reduce the number of UTIs experienced over a year. The results showed that the group receiving homeopathy had a significant decrease in UTIs compared to the control group, suggesting that homeopathy may be a useful addition to standard UTI prevention for SCI patients.

Study Duration

12 Months

Participants

35 individuals with chronic SCI and ≥3 UTI/year

Evidence Level

Prospective study

Key Findings

1
Adjunctive homeopathic treatment led to a significant decrease in the number of self-reported UTI in the homeopathy group, whereas it remained unchanged in the control group.
2
The domain incontinence impact of the KHQ improved significantly in the homeopathy group, indicating an improvement in quality of life related to urinary incontinence.
3
Participants in the homeopathy group reported high satisfaction with the homeopathic care they received.

Research Summary

This study prospectively assessed the usefulness of classical homeopathy for preventing urinary tract infections (UTI) in patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) due to spinal cord injury (SCI). The results indicated that adjunctive homeopathic treatment led to a significant decrease in UTI in SCI patients, with a notable improvement in the incontinence impact domain of the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ). The study concludes that classical homeopathy could be considered as a complementary approach in SCI patients with recurrent UTI, highlighting the high satisfaction reported by participants with homeopathic care.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Homeopathy can be considered as an adjunctive treatment option for SCI patients experiencing recurrent UTIs.

Quality of Life

Integrating homeopathic treatment may improve the quality of life for SCI patients, particularly concerning incontinence impact.

Future Research

Further studies are needed to explore the mechanisms of action and optimize the application of homeopathy in this patient population.

Study Limitations

1
The study was underpowered due to incomplete recruitment for the control group.
2
The study was not blinded, potentially introducing bias.
3
The difference between prospectively and retrospectively reported UTI rates may indicate reporting inaccuracies or the inclusion of non-UTI related symptoms.

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