Children in primary school often suffer from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which may negatively impact their overall well-being. Co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) can adversely affect children as well and can cause restrictions in their daily life, especially in their school-environment.
The goal of this observational study is to identify the prevalence of LUTS in Flemish primary school children.The main questions it aims to answer are:
* How prevalent are LUTS in regular primary education? * Is there a relation with well-being in school environment? * Is there an influence of co-occuring NDDs? Children, parents and teachers will be asked to fill in questionnaires related to this research question.
Children in 4th-6th grade
Parents whose children are in grades 1-6
Teachers responsible for teaching children in grades 1-6
Children who attend regular primary education
High school students
home-schooled children
children who attend special needs education
Language barrier to understanding Dutch
Children following education in recruited primary, regular education schools and their respective parents/guardians and teachers
Cohort
Cross-sectional
Questionnaire Welbevinden
Other interventionA validated questionnaire recommended by the Flemish inspection of education to measure well-being in primary school children of the 4th, 5th and 6th grade.
Questionnaire Vancouver symptom score for dysfunctional elimination syndrome
Other interventionVancouver symptom score for dysfunctional elimination syndrome, Dutch version, validated by 't Hoen et al. 2016.
Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire
Other interventionValidated Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, Dutch version includes assessment of motor functioning.
Questionnaire concerning LUTS, NDDs and treatment perceptions
Other interventionUnvalidated, complementary questions including the presence of LUTS, earlier diagnosis of bladder and/or boweldysfunction and neurodevelopmental disorders and perception concerning treatment characteristics.
Questionnaire about policies and practices regarding children's toilet use and drinking habits in the classroom
Other interventionThese unvalidated questionnaire was based on the questionnaire developed by Ko et al. (2016) about the school's policies and practices regarding children's toilet use and drinking habits in the classroom, covering students in grades one through six. Epidemiological questions related to LUTS were added to complement the questionnaire.
Bladder and bowel dysfunction
Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms and/or bowel symptoms measured with the vancouver symptom score for dysfunctional elimination syndrome.
School functioning
Quality of life in school environment, measured as the child's well-being about school functioning with the questionnaire Welbevinden.
Influencing factors on school functioning
Prevalence and influence of neurodevelopmental disorders, school-related factors and LUTS. Results from the vancouver symptom score for dysfunctional elimination syndrome, Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, questions concerning neurodevelopmental disorders and a questionnaire about policies and practices regarding children's toilet use and drinking habits in the classroom will be correlated with results from the questionnaire Welbevinden.
Perception of treatment characteristics
Perception of parents about treatment characteristics for lower urinary tract symptoms are evaluated by means of a questionnaire including questions about treatment perceptions .
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University Hospital, Ghent
Lead sponsor
University Ghent
Collaborator
