A new international study has uncovered a concerning lack of public understanding about cystitis and urinary tract infections (UTIs) –  common health issues that disproportionately affect women. The findings, which also highlight widespread misconceptions about prevention and treatment, underscore the urgent need for education to combat rising antibiotic resistance.

In a survey of over 3,000 adults across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, 35% of respondents could not correctly define cystitis as a bladder infection, with some confusing it for a skin condition or even food allergies. Among younger adults aged 18–24, fewer than half (45%) were able to identify cystitis correctly.

Based at the University of Glasgow, the Centre will run a national pilot with educators, schools, and local authorities to develop spatial learning in schools across Scotland, with the aim of reaching 40% of Scottish classrooms by 2028. The pilot, led by University of Glasgow researchers, is funded by the Turner Kirk Trust and the Scottish Government.

Spatial reasoning skills enable people to work with complex structured information, and are strongly correlated with maths ability. Initial studies deployed in primary schools have shown that learning maths while exercising spatial reasoning increases performance in the subject by 20% and can reduce attainment gaps.

The launch of the Turner Kirk Centre for Spatial Reasoning comes against a background of intense efforts to enhance maths education and numeracy outcomes in Scotland from the Government and Education Scotland.