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Welcome!

This study is about overactive bladder (OAB) and aims to understand how it affects daily life, emotional wellbeing, and mental health. Focusing on the patient’s own experiences of OAB, the study will help improve care and support for people living with the condition.

REVEAL-OAB seeks to reveal what it is really like to live with OAB. 

Who can take part in the study?

People who have recently been diagnosed with OAB or have experience living with the condition are invited to take part in the study.They are invited to the study through their own health care provider.

The patients’ views and experiences are important and can help us better understand how OAB affects daily life, wellbeing, and access to care.

People who meet certain criteria can take part. This ensures the study collects information that is relevant and helpful.

Participants can take part in the study:

  • If they are over 18 years old.
  • They have been told by a doctor or other healthcare professional that they have symptoms that match OAB, or have been given a diagnosis of OAB.
  • They live in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, or the UK.
  • They have received the Patient Information Sheet from their health care provider, during an appointment, via email, or postal mail.
  • They can confirm they understand the Patient Information Sheet and that they want to take part in this study.

Are there any restrictions to participating?

Some people may not be able to participate due to specific health conditions or other reasons. These restrictions are in place to make sure the study is safe and accurate.

If any of the following applies, participants will unfortunately not be able to take part in this study: 

  • They have not received information on this study from their own health care provider
  • They have a confirmed neurological condition known to affect bladder function (for example: multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury).
  • They have undergone major surgery directly involving the bladder, prostate, urethra, or pelvic structures that affect urinary function.
  • They presently have a urinary tract infection (UTI).
  • They have or have had cancer in their bladder, kidneys, prostate, or other urinary or reproductive organs.

How does one participate in the study?

If participants meet the eligibility criteria, they can click the link or scan the QR code to access the online survey.Completing the survey will take approximately 30–60 minutes.

Before starting the survey, participants should make sure they have read the Patient Information Sheet.

Objectives of the study

  1. We want to understand and clearly describe how OAB affects everyday life — including daily activities, emotional wellbeing, and social life — not just the physical symptoms.
  2. We want to find out where people with OAB are not getting the support they need, help make conversations with healthcare professionals easier, and support shared decision-making about care. We also want to understand how experiences and care differ across countries, and use this information to improve healthcare services, guide funding, and plan future research.

If participants choose to take part, they will be asked to share their experiences of living with OAB.

This will involve:

  • Completing an online questionnaire about how OAB affects their daily life, emotional wellbeing, and social activities.
  • If they choose to take part in the second phase of the study, they may also be invited to a one-to-one interview, where they can talk about their experiences in more detail.

There are no right or wrong answers — we are interested in what life with OAB is really like for people living with the condition.

Taking part is completely voluntary. Personal information will be kept private, and one can choose to stop at any time. The results of the study will be used to help improve care, raise awareness, and ensure that patients’ experiences are considered in future healthcare decisions.

If preferred, participants may participate only in the survey and choose not to take part in the second part of the study.

Before starting the survey, please take a moment to read two short documents:

In the beginning of the survey, participants will be asked to complete an Informed Consent Form. That’s it — then they’re ready to begin the survey!

The study is organised and led by the European Association of Urology (EAU) Patient Office, with support from the following partner organisations:

  • World Federation for Incontinence and Pelvic Pain (WFIPP)
  • EAU Policy Office
  • Sociedad Iberoamericana de Neurourología y Uro Ginecología (SINUG)
  • International Continence Society (ICS)
  • International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ)
  • European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN)

These organisations work together to ensure the study is well designed and focused on what matters most to patients.

Contact

For questions about the study, feel free to contact us at info@patientinformation.org.

If help is needed with filling out the questionnaire, please don’t hesitate to contact the local charity. Their contact details are provided below.

France:

Germany:

Italy:

Poland

Spain

Sweden

The Netherlands

United Kingdom