Renal stone disease: reasons for non-acceptance of surgical treatment among population of Western Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Background: Renal stone is a common disease in Western Rajasthan. The aim of this study was to identify the causes of patient with renal disease for opting alternative methods for treatment instead of surgical approach.Methods: A prospective study was conducted at the Department of Urology, Dr. SN Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan between August 2018 and July 2019. Patients with diagnosis of complicated renal stone disease including infected hydronephrosis, pyonephrosis, and calyceal rupture were enrolled in this study. Along with demographic characteristics patients were asked to enumerate causes for delay in seeking surgical intervention in sequential order and the reasons given by each patient were recorded separately.Results: A total of 80 patients with complicated renal stone disease were included in the study. Majority of the patients (77.50%) were men. Out of 80 patients, 32 patients were illiterate and 28 patients had primary level of education. Sixty-two patients reported only single reason for their negligence. Eleven and three patients reported two and three reasons, respectively. However, four patients could not provide any reason. The major cause reported by the patients (57.5%) for neglecting their disease was dependence and trust on alternative methods including ayurvedic medicines, homeopathic medicines, bhopas, and superstition.Conclusions: The majority of patients were belonged to lower socioeconomic class reported that dependence and trust on alternative methods including ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines are the major cause of neglecting their disease.