Background

Urinary incontinence (UI) affects 13–40% of women during their life [1,2,3,4]. Pregnancy and childbirth are the most important provocative factors for UI during lifetime [5].

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI), defined as any involuntary leakage of urine on effort or exertion, or on sneezing or coughing, is the most prevalent type of UI during pregnancy [6]. SUI can be the result of a failing pelvic floor, sphincteric and/or supportive system [7]. The prevalence of SUI rises from approximately 9% in the first trimester of pregnancy to 32% in the second and 38% in the third trimester [8,9,10]. Eight weeks after delivery the prevalence of SUI is 19%, rising to, respectively, 22% and 26% at 6 and 12 months post-partum [8, 11]. Mørkved et al. [10] even reported a prevalence of 40% at 8 weeks post-partum. Many women believe that their UI will resolve by itself [12]. However, it is known that 75 to 92% of the women with SUI at3 months post-partum, still have UI even after 5 or 12 years [13, 14]. Often, UI reduces quality of life (QoL) because of its negative impact on sexual relationships and daily life activities [15, 16]. Despite this, 75% of women never seek help for UI because they feel embarrassed or feel that losing urine is normal after giving birth [12, 17, 18].

Pelvic-floor-muscle training (PFMT) aims to improve the supportive system and to achieve a timely contraction in case of expected leakage, both with voluntary (the Knack manoeuvre) and involuntary contractions [19]. Positive effects of PFMT peri-partum are proven up to 1 year post-partum [20]. However, it is still unknown whether the long-term effects are lasting as well as whether pre- or post-partum PFMT is more effective in treating SUI compared to care-as-usual (CAU). Currently there are no guidelines on UI peri-partum for midwifes and gynaecologists [21]. Therefore, CAU is known to be applied differently among health care providers and sometimes only includes prescription of incontinence materials [22]. PFMT may be provided individually or in a group. Recently, a meta-analysis on the effects of individual versus group PFMT for women with UI, both provided by a physiotherapist, showed no significant difference in results between the groups [23]. The latter is of particular interest as group therapy is less expensive when compared to individual therapy, and might, therefore, be a cost-effective strategy. It is known that health care costs are rising due to an increasing level of unhealthy lifestyle and number of people with one or more chronic diseases. For that reason, it is of relevance to focus on the evaluation of potentially cost-effective therapies [24, 25].

Given the promising effects of PFMT in the short term and the potential of group therapy being a cost-effective strategy, the Pelvic care Center Maastricht (PcCM), embedded in the Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), developed motherfit group therapy. Motherfit group therapy includes pelvic-floor-muscle group therapy (PFMGT) combined with general fitness exercises, provided by pelvic physiotherapists (PPTs), to treat peri-partum women with SUI. Moreover, motherfit group therapy has a strong focus on self-management, as it is reported that this will promote adherence and thereby sustain longer-term effects [26].

The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether a structured assessment and treatment programme (motherfit group therapy) of intensive, supervised PFMGT, including a home maintenance programme, reduces 18 months’ post-partum UI severity (frequency, amount and impact) compared to CAU in adult pregnant women (MOTHERFIT1) and post-partum women with SUI (MOTHERFIT2). The secondary objective is to investigate whether motherfit group therapy is cost-effective compared to CAU in pregnant (MOTHERFIT1) and post-partum women with SUI (MOTHERFIT2) 18 months post-partum.

It is hypothesised that intensive, supervised, pre-partum (study 1: MOTHERFIT1) or post-partum (study 2: MOTHERFIT2) PFMGT is more (cost-)effective compared to CAU in adult pregnant (MOTHERFIT1) or post-partum women with SUI (MOTHERFIT2).

Methods

Study design

The study consists of two multi-centred, randomised controlled trials (RCTs), namely MOTHERFIT1 and MOTHERFIT2. MOTHERFIT1 focusses on investigating PFMGT pre-partum and MOTHERFIT2 on PFMGT post-partum. Participants will be recruited in the southern part of The Netherlands from the Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Zuyderland MC (Heerlen/Sittard), Laurentius Hospital (Roermond), Maxima MC (Eindhoven) and surrounding midwifery practices. Except for Maxima MC, all obstetric centres are part of the Obstetric Consortium Limburg, a first-, second- and third-line obstetric midwifery maternity care collaboration. In every region, a registered PPT will provide motherfit group therapy. This protocol has been prepared in accordance with standard protocol items; recommendation for interventional trials (SPIRIT), a completed SPIRIT checklist is included as Additional file 1.

Participants

Women will be included if they meet all of the following criteria: (1) aged ≥ 18 years, (2) UI (stress or mixed with predominant stress UI factor, according to Haylen et al. [6], (3) a score of > 3 on the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence-Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) questionnaire [27], (4) are motivated for participation in the motherfit programme, (5) are competent to speak and understand the Dutch language and to read and fill in forms independently and (6) have a mobile app (mApp) on a tablet (Apple or Android) available.

Exclusion criteria are: (1) UI prior to first pregnancy, still existing during pregnancy, (2) high-risk pregnancy, resulting in a contra-indication for performing intensive pelvic-floor-muscle (PFM) exercises (e.g. placenta praevia, vaginal blood loss, preterm uterine contractions), (3) suffering from significant exercise limitations or co-morbidities (physical or psychological) that would restrain a woman from participation in motherfit group therapy, (4) a history of chronic neurological disorders or diseases related to UI (e.g. multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular accident, diabetes mellitus (during ≥ 1 year with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) > 10 mmol/l)), (5) urinary tract infection (urine-sediment, urine culture), (6) a history of anti-incontinence or urogynaecological surgery, (7) women who are expected to be lost to follow-up (e.g. because of a planned change of residency), (8) have had recent pelvic physiotherapy (< 6 months) and (9) refusal to use a mApp.

Detailed study plan

Patient recruitment/consent procedure

The obstetrician/gynaecologist or midwife (case manager) at each centre will be responsible for identifying eligible participants. All women will receive written and digital (www.motherfit.net) general information about the motherfit study at:

  • the first visit to the case manager and may be recruited from the second visit at 12 weeks or later until 27 weeks’ gestation (MOTHERFIT1)

  • routine control at 6 weeks post-partum (MOTHERFIT2)

In case a woman is interested to participate, a simple vaginal examination is performed to check the ability to contract the pelvic floor muscles (Figs. 1 and 2). The woman will receive an envelope containing: patient information, two informed consent forms with return envelope and an information booklet on the medical scientific research of the Dutch Government [28]. The case manager fills in the name, telephone number and email address of the woman at a secure site (digital database), which can only be accessed by the researcher. After 1 week, the researcher will contact the woman by telephone and ask whether she has any questions regarding the study after reading the patient information. If the woman is willing to participate, she will be asked to fill in the two informed consent forms and return them to the researcher. The researcher will sign the two informed consent forms and return one to the participant.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Schedule of enrolment, allocation, interventions and assessments for MOTHERFIT1

Full size image
Fig. 2
figure 2

Schedule of enrolment, allocation, interventions and assessments for MOTHERFIT2

Full size image

Allocation of participants

After signing the informed consent, the participant will receive an email with a link to the electronic baseline questionnaires. Once the questionnaires are completed, block randomisation (block size is 4) will be done by a computer-generated sequence in a 1:1 ratio on the individual patient and location level. Allocation in blocks of 4 is concealed and done using a central computer. Participants are either allocated to the motherfit programme (intervention) or the CAU (control group).

Blinding

Due to the nature of the interventions, the participants and PPTs cannot be blinded. During the trial the coordinating researcher is not blinded. However, once the participant has completed the questionnaires, it is not possible to make changes in the data due to locking of the questionnaires. Moreover, before the statistical analyses all participants will be appointed a new study number for which the coordinating researcher is blinded. Therefore, analyses will be done blinded for treatment allocation.

Protocol training

Case managers

Preceding the inclusion period, on-site information, instruction on the standardised assessment and inclusion procedures will be provided to case managers by the researcher for 1 h. Assessment follows the standard procedures of the Dutch Consortium Urogynecology to assess pelvic floor signs and symptoms. Special attention will be paid to the short assessment of a correct contraction of the PFMs by observation and vaginal palpation for closing and lifting of the PFMs [29].

Pelvic physiotherapists (PPTs)

In The Netherlands, pelvic physiotherapy is a specialisation within the field of physiotherapy and has its own registration in order to guarantee quality [30].

Preceding the inclusion period, information, instruction and training on the standardised assessment and group therapy protocol will be provided to involved PPTs during a 2-h workshop. The PPTs receive a set of laminated A4 papers with a detailed description for each therapy session, containing: topics to discuss, PFM and homework exercises.

Interventions

Care-as-usual

In case participants with SUI are allocated to the CAU group, participating case managers give their normal advice and women make their own choices as to whether they want to participate in any kind of pregnancy-related course, visit to a physician or therapist.

Motherfit group therapy

All women allocated to motherfit group therapy, and unaware or unable to contract their PFMs correctly, will be referred to the PPT for individual instruction before joining the motherfit group therapy (Fig. 3). Every participating region has a PPT who provides individual or group therapy. Motherfit consists of eight group therapy sessions of 60 min each, instructed and supervised by a registered PPT. In each group a maximum of four women are allowed to participate. Women of both studies can start when they have been randomised to motherfit group therapy. Therefore, the participant’s group composition may change over time. Motherfit includes instructions on pelvic floor anatomy and how to contract, relax and train the PFMs correctly and is combined with general physical exercises with a strong focus on self-management.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) Figure. PFMGT pelvic-floor-muscle group therapy

Full size image

The PFMT protocol has been published previously by Bø et al. [31], and is based on the Norwegian Aerobic Fitness Model. It follows the general training principles and the recommendations concerning physical activity practice during and after pregnancy according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the World Health Organisation (WHO) [31, 32] (Table 1).

Table 1 Types of training provided during MOTHERFIT1 and MOTHERFIT2 with accompanying aim and exercises
Full size table

Moreover, all women receive a mApp (iPelvis) [33], an application with individualised pelvic physiotherapy exercises, and supportive video content and images. Performance and adherence to PFMT will be recorded in the participants’ personal training diary and is reinforced by the regularly sending of push notifications on the mApp. The training diary will be available for the motherfit group therapists and may be used to discuss the participants’ motivation to incorporate adequate PFMT and use of PFM in their daily activities. Although adverse events due to PFMT are very rare [20], adverse event forms are used to register their occurrence during the motherfit group therapy.

Data collection and outcome measures

All data (electronic case report forms and questionnaires at baseline and follow-up) of the participants and case managers will be collected in a (web-based) digital central database. Demographic variables and personal characteristics will be registered by the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Obstetrie & Gynaecologie vragenlijst (NVOG-q) at baseline for MOTHERFIT1 and MOTHERFIT2.

MOTHERFIT1: data will be collected at baseline, 34 weeks of gestation, 6 weeks and 6 and 18 months post-partum.

MOTHERFIT2: data will be collected at baseline and 4, 9 and 18 months post-partum.

The case manager fills in a first survey after the inclusion of a participant. For MOTHERFIT1 these questions include, among others, expected delivery date and current medication use. Two weeks after delivery, case managers receive a second survey regarding delivery variables. For MOTHERFIT2 the case manager fills in identical surveys, except the question on expected delivery date.

Participants in the intervention group fill in a training diary and three questions regarding their general physical activity level, weekly. The PPTs will register attendance of the participant during the intervention period and send it by postal mail to the researcher.

Primary outcome measure

Tables 1 and 2 show the schedule of assessments for MOTHERFIT1 and MOTHERFIT2. The primary outcome measure is self-reported UI based on the severity sum score of the ICIQ-UI-SF. The ICIQ-UI-SF is a brief (four questions) and robust measure for evaluating the frequency of symptoms and impact of UI [34]. The total score ranges from 0 (not affected) to 21 (severely affected). The ICIQ-UI-SF is divided into the following four severity categories: slight (1–5), moderate (6–12), severe (13–18) and very severe (19–21) [35]. The questionnaire is translated in Dutch [36]. Therapy success is defined as absence of UI or change from baseline of at least 3 points on the ICIQ-UI-SF at 18 months post-partum [37].

Secondary outcome measures

Patient-reported improvement: the Patient Global Impression of Severity (GPE) questionnaire assesses patients’ self-reported improvement [38]. It is an accepted and reliable scale for incontinence, consisting of one question and seven response options [39, 40].

Quality of life outcomes: the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7) contains seven items that reliably assess the impact of UI on health-related quality of life (HRQL) [41, 42]. It determines UI impact on four domains: mobility, physical functioning, emotional health and embarrassment and ranges from 0 to 100.

General activity level: the diary has to be filled in weekly. Next to a question regarding the number of days PFM exercises have been executed, it contains three questions regarding general activity level. The questions on general activity level are modified from the Dutch healthy exercise norm (Nederlandse Norm Gezond Bewegen). This norm is based on publications of the American College of Sports Medicine [43].

Adherence to home training programme

Only participants in the intervention group register their performance of requested pelvic-floor-muscle exercises, including their general physical activity, weekly, at home in the training diary. The training diary is a data entry form and, if scanned, an Excel file will be computer generated.

Cost-effectiveness

For the purpose of the economic evaluation, a study-specific cost questionnaire has been developed. Participants’ resource use ((in) direct costs related to SUI) is collected from the societal and health care perspective. Furthermore, the EuroQol instrument (EQ-5D-5 L) will be administered, a validated, generic health-state measure [43, 44] widely used in economic evaluations. The five-level version (EQ-5D-5 L) is proposed by the recently updated Dutch guideline for economic evaluations in health care [45] and consists of the EQ Visual Analogue Scale and a descriptive system. The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension can be rated at five levels: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems and extreme problems.

Process evaluation

A study-specific questionnaire has been developed to evaluate patient satisfaction of motherfit group therapy (part 1, 10 items) and satisfaction with the use of the mApp (part 2, seven items). Questions on motherfit group therapy were, e.g. on whether the participant liked training in a group and if there were enough opportunities to ask the motherfit group therapist questions. Questions regarding satisfaction of the mApp were, e.g. on ease of use and whether participants would continue using the mApp after the intervention period. Each item ranges from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

Statistical methods

Sample size calculation

Assuming that the average score of the primary outcome measure (ICIQ-UI-SF; range 0–21) of MOTHERFIT1 will lie at 8 and for MOTHERFIT2 at 9 (which is also the expected mean ICIQ-UI-SF score at 18 months post-partum in the CAU group; in contrast, the expected mean ICIQ-UI-SF score at 18 months post-partum in the experimental group is 5 (for MOTHERFIT1 and MOTHERFIT2) together with a relatively high standard deviation of 5 at baseline (because of the non-normality of the measure), participants will – with 97.5% probability – vary at baseline within the ranges of 0 to 19. The minimum acceptable score of participants to be treated is set at 3, so the range lies approximately between 3 and 19. From earlier studies [44], it became clear that the success of the PFMT exercises will be considerable and will be clinically relevant if the gain is higher than half the standard deviation of the baseline, presumably 3 with a somewhat smaller standard deviation of 3, because of the homogenising effects in the experimental arm. In contrast to MOTHERFIT1 (women remain stable), in MOTHERFIT2 it is assumed that the condition of CAU participants at 18 months will worsen with an average ICIQ-UI-SF score going from 9 in the baseline to 10 (SD 5).

Assuming two-sided testing, a power of 90% (beta = 0.10) and a significance level of 0.95 (alpha = 0.05) in each arm of the trial in MOTHERFIT1, minimally 60, and in MOTHERFIT2, minimally 35 participants will have to be included without taking into account that participants may drop out of the study during the 18 months of observations. Using a 20% dropout, in MOTHERFIT1 each arm will need 75 participants, 150 in total, and in MOTHERFIT2 each arm will need 45 participants, 90 in total.

Statistical analysis

Analysis of the participants will be reported in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Statement [44]. Data will be analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle. By preference, multiple-imputation techniques are used for missing values.

Descriptive analysis

Firstly, descriptive, univariate statistics will be reported. In case of metric, normally distributed variables, mean and standard deviations are presented. If not normally distributed, medians and percentiles are presented. The Shapiro-Wilk test will be used to assess normality.

Process and structure indicators will be analysed with descriptive statistics and presented as absolute and proportion data (%) whenever the variable is categorical, or as mean (± standard deviation; 95% confidence intervals) or quartiles for continuous variables. A p value < 0.05 will be considered to be statistically significant. Data analysis will be carried out using SPSS version 25 (IBM. Corporation, Somers. NY, USA).

Analysis of main hypotheses

In both studies, the main hypothesis concerns differential changes in ICIQ-UI-SF within time between two randomised groups of participants. (Repeated measurements) analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) will be performed with baseline measurements (T0) as covariate. Transformations of original scores will be attempted if the ICIQ-UI-SF shows a non-normal distribution at T0. Randomisation groups (motherfit group therapy versus CAU) are regarded as a between factor. Next, the within-participants linear trend in time of the outcome will be calculated with the weights from the first orthogonal polynomial contrast and this is used as a dependent variable in a multiple (dummy-)regression analysis. It concerns repeated measurements from T0 to T4 (MOTHERFIT1) and T0 to T3 (MOTHERFIT2). Next to the baseline covariate measurement and the randomisation groups’ dummy variable, other possible confounding variables will be used in this multiple linear regression analysis of the linear trend in time of the ICIQ-UI-SF.

The following potential confounding variables are considered to be used in the multiple linear regression analysis: Body Mass Index (BMI) before pregnancy (> 25), parity, maternal age (> 35 years) and the ability to perform a PFM contraction at baseline.

Forward selection and backward elimination techniques will be used to determine the best fit of the data to a final regression model. Testing of interactive relationships between statistically significant effects of predictors in the final model will be done, especially if it concerns the experimental between-randomisation groups’ factor. Listwise deletion of missing cases will be used in all linear regression modelling. This may be in case of loss-to-follow-up because of a succeeding pregnancy during the follow-up period of 18 months. For the final best-fitting regression model, a residual analysis will be done on the standardised Studentised z-scores and a screening will be performed on outliers to ensure the legitimacy and validity of the use of parametric statistics in analysis by testing the normality of distribution of the linear trend in ICIQ-UI-SF.

Statistical analysis on the secondary outcomes of the study, such as the IIQ-7, the GPE and the EQ-5D-5 L will be handled in the same way as the primary outcome measure ICIQ-UI-SF. Process and structure indicators will be analysed with descriptive statistics and presented quantitatively as numbers and absolute and proportion data.

Economic evaluation

General considerations

For both subgroups in MOTHERFIT1 and MOTHERFIT2, separate trial-based economic evaluations (EE) will be performed, but both EEs will have the same characteristics, except for the time horizon. The EE will take a societal and health care perspective, comparing motherfit group therapy with CAU. The time horizon for MOTHERFIT1 will be (about) 24 months starting from 12 weeks’ gestation (study inclusion) up to 18 months post-partum and for MOTHERFIT2 from approximately 6 weeks to 18 months post-partum. Cost-effectiveness ratios will be expressed as the societal cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) (societal perspective), and the (health care) cost per woman, in whom UI is clinically relevant, reduced (primary outcome; health care perspective). Bootstrap analysis and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves will be constructed, showing for a range of threshold values the probability that motherfit group therapy is cost-effective. Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses (e.g. on age categories, adherent versus non-adherent women) will be performed to test for the robustness of the results.

Cost-analysis

The cost-analysis will be performed from both a societal and health care perspective. Resource use will be measured in natural units and will be valued in monetary terms by multiplying these units by the costs per unit. If available, standardised, national cost prices (e.g. specified by the recently updated Dutch guideline for cost research in health care will be used [46]. Costs are distinguished into motherfit programme costs including the group sessions and home-based part and costs of the mApp (initial and replacement costs for ICT hardware and software), health care costs (e.g. use of incontinence materials, visits to the general practitioner, gynaecologist, midwifery costs, visits to the PPT, surgery, etc.), non-health care costs (e.g. travel costs and productivity losses) and patient and family costs (time spent on the programme, informal care costs). Data on (health care) resource utilisation associated with SUI will be prospectively recorded during the study by the participants. Other health care, non-health care and patient and family costs will be collected by means of a standardised cost questionnaire to be filled out by patients. Costs occurring 12 months after study inclusion will be discounted at 4% according to the Dutch guidelines for economic evaluations health care [47].

Patient outcome analysis

The outcome for the cost-utility analysis (societal perspective) is defined in terms of QALYs from inclusion up to 18 months post-partum. The number of QALYs is derived from the adjustment of survival data with HRQL. HRQL will be measured with the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) instrument, which provides a descriptive health profile and a Dutch valuation set for obtaining utility scores from the EQ-5D [45]. The outcome for the cost-effectiveness analysis (health care perspective) is based on the proportion of women with clinically relevant reduction in UI at 18 months post-partum. Outcomes occurring 12 months following study inclusion will be discounted at 1.5% according to the Dutch guidelines for economic evaluations of health care [47].

Long-term decision analytical modelling

Next to the trial-based EE, a model-based EE will be performed, as it is expected that the economic impact of motherfit is best investigated by means of a long-term decision analytical model. First a structure and working model will be created that will facilitate the necessary analysis to be performed throughout the project. This model will be able to incorporate the values of all input parameters (both point estimates and uncertainty). Once the structure of the model is established, four essential types of data will be required: probabilities, costs, survival and health utilities (QALYs). Short-term costs and effectiveness data are readily available from the trial-based EE, whereas longer-term data may require synthesis of available evidence in the literature. Estimates of the economic impact will first be made using fixed estimates of probabilities, costs and health outcomes. Subsequently, a probabilistic sensitivity analysis will be performed which will address the joint uncertainty of the model inputs. As for the trial-based cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-effectiveness acceptability curves will be constructed. As with the trial-based EE, the model-based EE will address the cost per QALY (societal perspective) and cost per UI prevented (health care perspective). We will express uncertainty by means of confidence intervals and by creating cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. The appropriate time horizon will be agreed upon during the study but is expected to be lifetime.

Budget Impact Analysis (BIA)

A BIA will be performed according to the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) guidelines [48]. The BIA addresses the financial stream of consequences related to the implementation of motherfit group therapy and thus its affordability. The budget impact will depend, e.g. on patient acceptability of the programme, the uptake of the programme by health care professional and the target group, the cost-increase due to increased implementation of motherfit group therapy, and the cost savings due to preventing or reducing UI, i.e. reduced cost-of-illness. The structure and some data input of the decision analytical model developed for the EE will be adapted for the BIA. Input parameters will be based on results of the trial, national prevalence data, unit prices and tariffs obtained in the trial-based EE, and from the available literature when necessary. The analyses will be performed from different perspectives, including a health care budgetary perspective and a health insurers’ perspective. The model will take changes in the adoption/implementation of the programme, and patient acceptability/uptake into account and will compare different scenarios as regards to the swiftness and extensiveness of the uptake. In order to test the robustness of the results, sensitivity analyses will be performed. The time horizon will be varied from 1 year up to 5 years. No discounting will be applied.

Withdrawal of individual subjects

Subjects can leave the study at any time and for any reason, if they wish to do so, without any consequences. The investigator can decide to withdraw a subject from the study for urgent medical reasons.

All women enrolled in the study will be followed and accounted for. Women who are unwilling or unable to commit themselves to the study plan and follow-up schedule (i.e. serious illness, during pregnancy, e.g. premature rupture of membranes, blood loss, severe high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, movement out of the local area, etc.) may be withdrawn from the study. Women who will become pregnant again during the follow-up period of 18 months will be handled as dropout cases. Upon withdrawal of a subject, all documentation is available immediately for the investigators through the electronic case report file.

Monitoring

This will be by the Clinical Trial Center Maastricht (CTCM), Christel Jacquot, Oxfordlaan 70, 6229 EV Maastricht, The Netherlands (www.ctcm.nl).

Discussion

The two motherfit studies are studies aim to evaluate whether motherfit group therapy is (cost-)effective 18 months post-partum for pregnant (MOTHERFIT1) and post-partum women (MOTHERFIT2) with SUI. As health care costs are rising in general, there is a need for cost-effective strategies, which is one of the main reasons for initiating the motherfit studies. The motherfit studies are, to our knowledge, the first studies that evaluate both longer-term results and health care costs compared to CAU in pregnant and post-partum women with SUI. The endpoint of 18 months post-partum is chosen because of the increasing possibility of a subsequent pregnancy and consequently loss to follow-up. In order to sustain long-term results, it is known that adherence is a strong predictive factor [33]. Therefore, motherfit group therapy not only focusses on PFMT, general fitness exercises and education, but also has a strong emphasis on adherence and self-management. Adherence to PFMT will be supported by a mApp.

Currently, no guidelines on urinary incontinence exist specifically for pregnant and post-partum women. In case motherfit demonstrates to be (cost-)effective, implementation of motherfit group therapy should be considered in peri-partum care and future guidelines.

Trial status

Participants for the MOTHERFIT1 and MOTHERFIT2 studies are currently being recruited in five regions in the southern part of The Netherlands. The first patient was randomised on 4 October 2017. Last participant follow-up for MOTHERFIT1 and MOTHERFIT2 is expected in August 2020; version 5, 31 March 2017. The trial registration number is NTR5971 (Dutch Trial Register), 18 July 2016.