Vol 85, No 5 (2014)
ARTICLES
Barriers in entering treatment among women with urinary incontinence
Urszula Wójtowicz, Lucyna Płaszewska-Żywko, Klaudia Stangel-Wójcikiewicz
DOI: 10.17772/gp/1734
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Ginekol Pol 2014;85(5).
Vol 85, No 5 (2014)
ARTICLES
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to identify barriers in help seeking behaviors among women with urinary incontinence UI. Materials and methods: The study was performed using the method of diagnostic enquiry by means of questionnaireand interview among two groups of patients. The first group of women aged 47-79 years consisted of 80 members of the Association of People with Urinary Incontinence „Uroconti”. The second group included 61 females aged 26-81 years admitted to the Urodynamic Laboratory of Gynecology and Oncology Clinic at the University Hospital in Krakow. Results: Patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) reported to the doctor on average after 4 years, patients with urgency urinary incontinence (UUI), after 3 years, patients with a mixed form of urinary incontinence (MUI), after 6 years, and with overflow incontinence, after 10 years from the appearance of first symptoms. Anxiety, shame, the conviction that symptoms of UI are a normal age related state, as well as the conviction that the symptoms are temporary, significantly affected the delay in seeking medical consultation. Most of the surveyed women made the decision to undertake treatment themselves, and their main motive was the escalation of symptoms. The majority (89.4%) of women surveyed alleviated the symptoms of urinary incontinence without the help of a doctor, sometimes using methods detrimental to their health. Conclusion: The identification of help seeking barriers and reaching out to risk groups is essential for early diagnose and effective treatment of women with urinary incontinence.
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to identify barriers in help seeking behaviors among women with urinary incontinence UI. Materials and methods: The study was performed using the method of diagnostic enquiry by means of questionnaireand interview among two groups of patients. The first group of women aged 47-79 years consisted of 80 members of the Association of People with Urinary Incontinence „Uroconti”. The second group included 61 females aged 26-81 years admitted to the Urodynamic Laboratory of Gynecology and Oncology Clinic at the University Hospital in Krakow. Results: Patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) reported to the doctor on average after 4 years, patients with urgency urinary incontinence (UUI), after 3 years, patients with a mixed form of urinary incontinence (MUI), after 6 years, and with overflow incontinence, after 10 years from the appearance of first symptoms. Anxiety, shame, the conviction that symptoms of UI are a normal age related state, as well as the conviction that the symptoms are temporary, significantly affected the delay in seeking medical consultation. Most of the surveyed women made the decision to undertake treatment themselves, and their main motive was the escalation of symptoms. The majority (89.4%) of women surveyed alleviated the symptoms of urinary incontinence without the help of a doctor, sometimes using methods detrimental to their health. Conclusion: The identification of help seeking barriers and reaching out to risk groups is essential for early diagnose and effective treatment of women with urinary incontinence.
Keywords
urinary incontinence, help seeking barriers, education
Title
Barriers in entering treatment among women with urinary incontinence
Journal
Ginekologia Polska
Issue
Vol 85, No 5 (2014)
Page views
1411
Article views/downloads
1485
DOI
10.17772/gp/1734
Bibliographic record
Ginekol Pol 2014;85(5).
Keywords
urinary incontinence
help seeking barriers
education
Authors
Urszula Wójtowicz
Lucyna Płaszewska-Żywko
Klaudia Stangel-Wójcikiewicz