Welcome!

1. We want to understand and clearly describe how OAB affects everyday life — including daily activities, emotional wellbeing, and social life — not just the physical symptoms.
2. We want to find out where people with OAB are not getting the support they need, help make conversations with healthcare professionals easier, and support shared decision-making about care. We also want to understand how experiences and care differ across countries, and use this information to improve healthcare services, guide funding, and plan future research.
3. We also want to understand how experiences and care differ across countries, and use this information to improve healthcare services, guide funding, and plan future research.

If participants choose to take part, they will be asked to share their experiences of living with OAB.

This will involve:

• Completing an online questionnaire about how OAB affects their daily life, emotional wellbeing, and social activities.
• If they choose to take part in the second phase of the study, they may also be invited to a one-to-one interview, where they can talk about their experiences in more detail.

There are no right or wrong answers — we are interested in what life with OAB is really like for people living with the condition.

Taking part is completely voluntary. Personal information will be kept private, and one can choose to stop at any time. The results of the study will be used to help improve care, raise awareness, and ensure that patients’ experiences are considered in future healthcare decisions.

If preferred, participants may participate only in the survey and choose not to take part in the second part of the study.

Before starting the survey, please take a moment to read two short documents:

• Patient Information Sheet – explains what the study is about and how it will be done.
• Privacy Notice – explains how we will keep participant’s information safe.

In the beginning of the survey, participants will be asked to complete an Informed Consent Form. That’s it — then they’re ready to begin the survey!

The study is organised and led by the European Association of Urology (EAU) Patient Office, with support from the following partner organisations:

• World Federation for Incontinence and Pelvic Pain (WFIPP)
• EAU Policy Office
• Sociedad Iberoamericana de Neurourología y Uro Ginecología (SINUG)
• International Continence Society (ICS)
• International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ)
• European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN)

These organisations work together to ensure the study is well designed and focused on what matters most to patients.

Eamonn is an experienced consultant urologist based in Galway, Ireland, with over 25 years of clinical, academic, and leadership experience in urology. He works with the Saolta University Health Care Group and has held several senior national roles, including National Clinical Advisor in Urology for Ireland’s health system and, more recently, co-lead of the National Clinical Programme for Surgery, where he has contributed to developing models of care and improving access to urological services. 

Internationally, he is well known for his work in patient-centred care as Chair of the EAU Patient Office, where he has helped advance patient involvement, education, and the use of patient-reported outcomes in urology research and practice. He is also active in research, with publications spanning areas such as prostate cancer and urinary conditions, and has played a role in initiatives addressing health inequalities, including prostate cancer outcomes in Black men.

Eamonn is in charge of the REVEAL-OAB project.

Michael is a urologist at Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem, Netherlands, where he specialises in functional urology, including conditions such as overactive bladder (OAB) and other lower urinary tract symptoms.

In the REVEAL-OAB study, Dr. van Balken contributes as one of the clinical and research investigators supporting the project’s design and implementation, particularly drawing on his expertise in OAB and patient-reported outcomes. His role helps ensure that the study’s quantitative and qualitative measures of how OAB affects daily life are grounded in clinical relevance and patient-centred perspectives.

Tiina is Finnish social scientist and CEO and founder of purpose-driven research consultancy The GoodMess that aims to improve social, economic and ecological sustainability of social and health care by means of research. 

Before founding The GoodMess, Tiina[TV1] [ER2]  worked in the academia for 17 years, researching social, economic and ethical aspects of health and social care from various perspectives, locally and globally. In her last university project, The Pad Project (2019-2024), she developed a model that could reduce the environmental burden of incontinence products by means of better, person-centred care and increased continence awareness. 

In the REVEAL-OAB Study, Tiina serves as the Research Lead and Coordinator. She also conducts the qualitative part of the research.

 [TV1]There is discrepancy now in our bios. Eamonn, Michael and me did not have any titles mentioned, but Francesco, Márk, and Chris are mentioned as Dr. Surname throughout the bios. 

In my bio I now combined both, so that titles and relevant experience are included as this is important for scientific credibibility of the project, but then first name used for reasons of approachability. 

Not sure what style is best for our audience, but consistency throughout the bios would be good.

 [ER2]Adjusted for consistency.

Francesco is an Italian urologist based in Rome, working as a specialist in the Urology Unit at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico.

In the REVEAL-OAB study, Francesco serves as the PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures) Work Package Lead, contributing to the design and implementation of the study’s quantitative component that gathers and analyses survey data on how overactive bladder affects patients’ lives. His role helps ensure that patient-reported outcomes are rigorously collected and interpreted to reflect the real-world experiences of people living with OAB across participating countries.

Márk is a Hungarian urologist at the Department of Urology at Petz Aladár University Teaching Hospital in Győr, Hungary.

In the REVEAL-OAB study, Márk contributes as part of the quantitative research team. In this role he supports the design, planning, and oversight of the patient-reported outcome measures and statistical aspects to help ensure that the survey data accurately captures the experiences of people living with OAB.

Paul is Professor of Applied Statistics at the University of Liverpool, where he specialises in quantitative methods, psychometrics and the application of statistical analysis in health-related research.

In the REVEAL-OAB study, Paul contributes his expertise in patient-reported outcome measurement (PROMs) and statistical analysis to the project’s quantitative component. In this role, he helps guide how PROMs are designed, collected and analysed so that the survey results meaningfully reflect the lived experiences and quality-of-life impacts reported by people with overactive bladder across the multi-country study.

Esther is the Senior Coordinator at the European Association of Urology Patient Office. She helps manage the day-to-day work related to this study.

The World Federation of Incontinence and Pelvic Problems (WFIPP) is an international patient advocacy organisation that represents people living with incontinence and pelvic floor disorders worldwide. It acts as a global umbrella for national patient groups, working to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and ensure that patients’ voices are heard by policymakers and healthcare systems.

 WFIPP promotes education, research, and collaboration between patients, professionals, and organisations, while advocating for better access to treatment and improved quality of life for those affected by these conditions.

The International Continence Society (ICS) is a registered charity with a global health focus which strives to improve the quality of life for people affected by urinary, bowel and pelvic floor disorders by advancing basic and clinical science through education, research, and advocacy. The strategic aim for the ICS is to be the global home of science and clinical education for LUTS, Incontinence and Pelvic Floor Disorders.

The Ibero-American Society of Neurourology and Urogynaecology is a professional scientific society that brings together multidisciplinary experts; primarily urologists, gynaecologists, physiotherapists, and rehabilitation specialists, from Ibero-American countries to advance research, education, and clinical practice in neuro-urology and urogynaecology. 

The society plays an important role in developing evidence-based position statements and consensus guidelines on key topics such as urinary incontinence, pelvic floor disorders, and chronic pelvic pain, often using structured methodologies and expert panels to synthesise current evidence. Through these activities, SINUG contributes to improving patient care, promoting standardisation of terminology and treatment approaches, and fostering collaboration across countries in the field of functional urology and pelvic health.

The European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN) is a professional organisation representing over 3,000 nurses working in urological care across Europe, with a focus on promoting high standards of patient-centred nursing practice and supporting the professional development of urology nurses. Established in 2000 and closely linked to the European Association of Urology, the EAUN plays a key role in developing evidence-based clinical guidelines, delivering education and training (including congresses, courses, and webinars), and fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange among nurses. Through its activities, the EAUN aims to standardise best practice, advance research, and ultimately improve outcomes and quality of care for patients with urological conditions.

The EAU Policy Office, part of the European Association of Urology, is based in Brussels and focuses on ensuring that key urological issues are represented in European health policy and decision-making. It works closely with EU institutions, policymakers, patient organisations, and professional stakeholders to advocate for evidence-based policies that improve urological care, research, and patient outcomes across Europe. Its activities include policy advocacy, engagement with legislation (such as cancer strategies and medical device regulation), contributing to initiatives like the European Health Data Space, and promoting equitable access to care. By combining clinical expertise with patient perspectives, the Policy Office helps ensure that urology remains a priority on the European public health agenda.

The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaires (ICIQ) is a collaborative research initiative based at the Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, UK. The group focusses on developing and providing a suite of validated, standardised patient-reported outcome measures for assessing urinary, bowel, vaginal, and pelvic floor symptoms. Widely used in both clinical practice and research, the ICIQ tools are designed to be reliable, sensitive, and internationally applicable, with many questionnaires translated and culturally adapted for use across different populations. By enabling consistent measurement of symptoms and their impact on quality of life, the ICIQ plays a key role in improving patient assessment, supporting clinical decision-making, and facilitating comparability of data across studies and healthcare settings.

The University of Liverpool is a leading UK research-intensive institution and a member of the Russell Group, known for its strong focus on academic excellence, innovation, and global impact. Founded in 1881, the university has a well-established reputation across disciplines including medicine, health sciences, and public health, with close links to the NHS and extensive involvement in clinical research and education. Through its interdisciplinary approach, the University of Liverpool contributes to advancing knowledge, improving healthcare outcomes, and training the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals both in the UK and internationally.

The GoodMess is a purpose-driven consultancy that works on complex global challenges related to sustainability, social justice, and care systems, aiming to make these systems more ethical and socio-economically as well as environmentally sustainable. It combines academic research with practical consulting; offering services like research projects, strategy advice, and workshops, to help governments, companies, and NGOs address issues such as healthcare, migration, and ethical labour practices. The organisation focuses on understanding “messy” real-world problems in their full complexity and bringing together diverse experts to develop fair, sustainable solutions that respect both people’s needs and planetary limits.

• CHU Grenoble Alpes
• Tenon Academic Hospital, Paris

• Universitätsklinikum Dresden
• Schwarzwald-Baar Klinikum 

• Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico of Rome
• Policlinico Tor Vergata University Hospital

• Rijnstate Hospital Arnhem
• Maastricht UMC

• Urology Clinic at the Orlowski Hospital in Warsaw

• Hospital Universitario Vitgen De Valme, Seville
• Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil (CHUIMI)

• Karolinska Institutet Solna, Stockholm Area

• Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield