Self-administered surveys were distributed to 540 randomly selected female nurses in Taipei’s two medical centers. Information about nurses’ individual characteristics, experiences with LUTS (urinary incontinence, increased daytime urinary frequency, urgency, nocturia, intermittent stream, weak urinary stream, hesitancy, and a feeling of incomplete emptying), and QOL was collected. Point-biserial correlation was used to examine the relation between LUTS and QOL.

Nurses were divided into two groups (with LUTS and without LUTS) based on their experiences of LUTS during the past 12 months. Nurse’s QOL was measured by the SF-36 Taiwan version which included 8 aspects (physical functioning, role limitation due to physical health problems, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role limitation due to emotional problems, and mental health) to demonstrate individual’s QOL. Scores for all the 8 aspects in the SF-36 ranged from 0 to 100.

Data analyses were based on 486 usable surveys. Of the 486 nurses, 245 (50.4%) experienced at least one type of LUTS and the prevalence rates for different types of LUTS ranged from 6.0% to 27%. Study result showed statistical significant correlation between LUTS and QOL (p<.05). Nurses with LUTS reported lower QOL at the 8 aspects in the SF-36 than the nurses without. This preliminary study is important for delivering appropriate management strategies to improve LUTS that may further improve nurses’ QOL.