Acta Scientific Women's Health

Case Report Volume 7 Issue 2

Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome [IC/BPS]: Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness in General Population of India

Cheshta Jalan1 and Kaushal Kapadia2*

1Texila American University, Guyana
2Clinical Research Professional, India

*Corresponding Author:Kaushal Kapadia, Clinical Research Professional, India.

Received: January 02, 2025; Published: January 24, 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic and incapacitating disorder marked by ongoing bladder pain, discomfort, and increased frequency of urination, which greatly undermines the quality of life for affected individuals. Despite being widely acknowledged in Western countries, IC/BPS is still not often diagnosed or reported accurately in India.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the extent of understanding and consciousness of IC/BPS among clinical practitioners and the general population in India.

Objectives: The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the awareness and understanding of IC/BPS among medical professionals, including urologists, gynecologists, and general practitioners, as well as to assess the level of awareness among the Indian population. Furthermore, the study aims to ascertain the obstacles and impediments to precise diagnosis and efficient treatment of IC/BPS in the healthcare setting of India.

Methods: Data was gathered from a representative number of clinical practitioners in key urban areas of India, as well as from a diverse demographic of the general population. The survey quantified knowledge, diagnostic procedures, treatment preferences, and perceived obstacles.

Results: Initial results suggest that both clinical practitioners and the general community in India have a limited level of awareness and understanding of IC/BPS. A significant number of healthcare professionals indicated little familiarity with IC/BPS cases and inadequate training in its diagnosis and treatment. A considerable segment of the general populace harboured limited knowledge of the disease, frequently conflating its symptoms with those of more frequently diagnosed urinary tract infections (UTIs). Furthermore, the study revealed that cultural stigma, absence of defined diagnostic criteria, and restricted access to specialized treatment are significant obstacles to the successful management of IC/BPS in India.

Conclusion: The results emphasize the immediate requirement for focused educational programs aimed at enhancing awareness and comprehension of IC/BPS among healthcare professionals and the general Indian community.

Keywords: Interstitial Cystitis (IC); Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS)

References

  1. Taneja R. “Interstitial cystitis/Bladder pain syndrome: The Current Understanding”. Journal of Genetic Disorders and Genetic Reports 5 (2016): 1.
  2. van de Merwe Joop P., et al. “Diagnostic Criteria, Classification, and Nomenclature for Painful Bladder Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis: An ESSIC Proposal”. European Urology1 (2008): 60-67.
  3. Doggweiler-Wiygul R., et al. “Interstitial cystitis: The painful bladder syndrome”. Current Review of Pain 4 (2000): 137-141.
  4. Hanno PM., et al. “The diagnosis of interstitial cystitis revisited: lessons learned from the National Institutes of Health Interstitial Cystitis Database study”. Journal of Urology2 (1999): 553-557.
  5. Mishra NN. “Clinical presentation and treatment of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) in India”. Translational Andrology and Urology5 (2015): 512-523.
  6. Homma Y., et al. “Clinical guidelines for interstitial cystitis and hypersensitive bladder syndrome”. International Journal of Urology 16 (2009): 597-615.
  7. GIBS guidelines Global Interstitial Cystitis Bladder Pain Society clinical guidelines for Bladder Pain Syndrome Version 3.0 [2024].
  8. Srakocic S. “Are there stages of interstitial cystitis?” Healthline (2024).
  9. Davis NF., et al. “Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome: Epidemiology, pathophysiology and evidence-based treatment options”. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology1 (2014): 30-37.
  10. Rovner Eric S and Kim Edward David. “Interstitial Cystitis Overview Practice Essentials [Internet]”. Medscape (2022).
  11. Di X Peng., et al. “Efficacy and safety comparison of pharmacotherapies for interstitial cystitis and bladder pain syndrome: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis”. International Urogynecology Journal5 (2021): 1129-1141.
  12. Leppilahti M., et al. “Prevalence of clinically confirmed interstitial cystitis in women: A population based study in Finland”. Journal of Urology2 (2005): 581-583.
  13. JULIUS F METTS. “Interstitial Cystitis: Urgency and Frequency Syndrome”. American Family Physician7 (2021): 1199-1206.
  14. Clemens JQ., et al. “Prevalence of interstitial cystitis symptoms in a managed care population”. Journal of Urology2 (2005): 576-580.
  15. Hanno PM. “Interstitial cystitis-epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, clinical markers”. Review on Urology 4 (2002): S3-8.
  16. Parsons CL. “How does interstitial cystitis begin?” Translational Andrology and Urology 6 (2015): 605-610.
  17. Lim Y., et al. “Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome”. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing (2024).
  18. Sant GR. “Etiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of interstitial cystitis”. Review on Urology 4 (2002): S9-15.
  19. Nickel JC., et al. “Randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging study of pentosan polysulfate sodium for interstitial cystitis”. Urology4 (2005): 654-658.
  20. Jhang JF., et al. “Current Understanding of the Pathophysiology and Novel Treatments of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome”. Biomedicines10 (2022): 2380.

Citation

Citation: Cheshta Jalan and Kaushal Kapadia. “Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome [IC/BPS]: Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness in General Population of India". Acta Scientific Women's Health 7.2 (2025): 66-71.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Cheshta Jalan and Kaushal Kapadia. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.




Metrics

Acceptance rate35%
Acceptance to publication20-30 days

Indexed In





News and Events


  • Certification for Review
    Acta Scientific certifies the Editors/reviewers for their review done towards the assigned articles of the respective journals.

Contact US