Toll-Free Telephone Medical Information on Nocturnal Enuresis: The First Italian Experience over a Two-Year Period
ABSTRACT The aim of the study is to promote, through this toll-free number (TFN) service, a health communication program providing information on nocturnal enuresis (NE) and related problems by a subspecialty-trained physician and to collect the callers' characteristics too. All phone calls were scheduled to data collections.
The telephone service operated as follows: the TFN was available from March 1 to May 31, 2000, and from April 1 to June 30, 2001. People called the free telephone line and received information needs.
A total of 12,806 calls were received by the help line during the two study periods (7,046 in 2000 and 5,760 in 2001). Of the calls, 61% came from subjects with NE without pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment, 16% (2000) and 13% (2001) came from subjects >12 years old.
A TFN for NE can be both accessible and effective in order to provide information on NE and related problems. Finally, such a service should be included in a national program to improve health and well-being.
- [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To investigate whether a structured withdrawal program from a sublingual formulation of fast-melting oral desmopressin lyophilisate (MELT) is superior to a sudden withdrawal from this formulation in the treatment of monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis. One hundred and three children presented to our pediatric nephrology outpatient clinic for bedwetting. Eighty-one children, aged between 5½ and 14 years (mean age 8.64 years), were treated with MELT at a dosage of 120 mcg a day. Responders were randomized to been withdrawn from therapy, after 3 months, abruptly or in a structured withdrawal program (60 mcg/day for 15 days and then 60 mcg every second evening for another 15 days). Main outcome parameter was relapse rate 1 month after the end of treatment. Relapse was defined as bedwetting occurring more than 2 nights per month after the 1-month treatment-free period. Relapse rate at 1 month after the end of treatment was 47.83% in the group on a structured program versus 45.83% in the abrupt termination group (p = 0.89). Our study suggests that a structured withdrawal program from MELT therapy doesn't offer advantages compared to an abrupt termination in children with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis.Journal of pediatric urology 06/2013; 10(1). DOI:10.1016/j.jpurol.2013.05.021 · 1.41 Impact Factor