A qualitative exploration of occupational influences on hydration, urination habits, food patterns, and self-care among patients with urolithiasis
摘要
Urolithiasis prevention depends on sustained fluid intake, timely urination, and appropriate dietary and lifestyle practices. However, occupational routines may make these behaviors difficult to maintain. This study explored participants’ perceptions of how occupational routines relate to stone-preventive self-care among individuals with CT-confirmed urolithiasis.
MethodsAn observational qualitative exploratory study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India. Adults with CT-confirmed urolithiasis and at least one calculus measuring 3 mm or more were recruited using maximum-variation purposive sampling across physically demanding or heat-exposed, sedentary or professional, travel-based or mobile, and shift-based or irregular work contexts. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted in Tamil between February and July 2025. Contemporaneous interview notes were expanded after each interview, translated into English, and analysed using thematic analysis. Clinical and CT-related variables were summarized descriptively to characterize the sample.
ResultsTwenty-four of 32 approached participants were included. The median maximum stone diameter was 7 mm (interquartile range, 5–10 mm), 15 participants had hydronephrosis and/or obstructive features, and 9 had recurrent stone disease. Six themes were identified: occupationally shaped inadequate hydration; restricted or delayed urination in relation to work setting; disruption of meal timing and food quality; occupational absorption and neglect of self-care; schedule instability, travel, and disruption of daily routines; and stone disease understood as multifactorial, with occupation interacting with other perceived contributors. Across themes, participants described three interconnected pathways through which work routines could make preventive self-care difficult to sustain: infrastructural and access constraints, schedule instability and routine disruption, and cognitive-attentional absorption. Family history, dietary and lifestyle practices, supplements, smoking, alcohol use, and comorbidities were also described as contextual contributors.
ConclusionsOccupational routines may influence the feasibility of maintaining stone-preventive self-care among individuals with urolithiasis. The findings support occupation-sensitive counselling and practical workplace strategies that consider water and toilet access, break opportunities, travel demands, shift work, and workload. Longitudinal and implementation studies should assess whether such approaches improve preventive behaviours and stone-related outcomes.