This descriptive research aimed at investigating symptom experiences, symptom management strategies, and quality of life of females with overactive bladders based on the conceptual framework of symptom management developed by Dodd et al. The study group consisted of 110 females with overactive bladders who sought treatment at the outpatient unit of the urology clinic, urodynamics room, and urogynecology clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, and the outpatient unit of the urology clinic, Rajavithi Hospital, from March to May 2006. Data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires including a demographic characteristics questionnaire, a symptom questionnaire, a quality of life questionnaire, and a questionnaire on symptom management strategies by patients, doctors, and nurses. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The subjects ranged in age from 24 to 78 years. The most frequently found symptom of overactive bladders was waking up at night because the subjects had to urinate (95.5%). This was followed by nighttime urination (95.5%) and frequent urination during daytimes hours (92.7%). As for symptom management strategies, all of the subjects (100.0%) went to the toilet before going to bed, going out, or traveling. In addition, they went to the toilet frequently (91.8%) and took medicine prescribed in treatment plans (74.5%). As regards symptom management strategies by doctors and nurses, the doctors provided non-pharmaceutical strategies or behavior therapy (91.3%) and prescribing medications (74.5%), while the nurses administered medications according to treatment plans (48.2%) and non-pharmaceutical strategies or behavior therapy (46.4%). Finally, the findings showed that the subjects’ overall quality of life was at a moderate level. The findings of this study can be used as a guideline to raise nurses’ awareness of symptom experiences, symptom management strategies, and quality of life of females with overactive bladders so that they will be able to provide more appropriate and effective nursing care to such females.

M.S.N,Adult Nursing มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล ปี 2549

of, Management, Quality, SYMPTOM, bladder, EXPERIENCE/, LIFE/OVERACTIVE, STRATEGIES/