Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Evaluating patient learning after an educational program for women with incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Urogynecology Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

This study investigated changes in participant knowledge, symptoms, and condition-specific quality of life after a 2.5-h nurse-ran workshop on pelvic floor health.

Methods

Data were collected prospectively on a convenience cohort of 51 women who completed questionnaires before, immediately after, and 3 months after the workshop.

Results

Participant response rate for questionnaire completion at 3 months was 83%. The median preworkshop knowledge score was 28/39 and median scores immediately postworkshop and at 3 months were 36/39 and 33/39. Knowledge scores were significantly higher immediately postworkshop (p < 0.01) and 3 months post (p < 0.01) when compared with knowledge scores preworkshop. Symptom and quality-of-life scores significantly improved from baseline to 3 months (Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire: mean difference = 14.2, p = 0.005, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.7–23.8; Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory: mean difference = 17.4, p < 0.001, 95% CI 8.3–26.5).

Conclusion

Women’s knowledge, symptoms, and quality-of-life scores significantly improved at 3 months compared to baseline preworkshop scores.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hay-Smith EJ, Dumoulin C (2006) Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 1:CD005654

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Hagen S, Stark D, Maher C, Adams E (2006) Conservative management of pelvic organ prolapse in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 4:CD003882

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Wallace SA, Roe B, Williams K, Palmer M (2004) Bladder training for urinary incontinence in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 1:CD001308

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Milne JL (2004) Behavioral therapies at the primary care level: the current state of knowledge. J Wound Ostomy Cont Nurs 31(6):367–376

    Google Scholar 

  5. Mitteness LS (1990) Knowledge and beliefs about urinary incontinence in adulthood and old age. J Am Geriatr Soc 38(3):374–378

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chiarelli P, Murphy B, Cockburn J (2003) Women’s knowledge, practises and intentions regarding correct pelvic floor exercises. Neurourol Urodyn 22(3):246–249

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. McLellan M, Melick C, Alten B, Young J, Hoehn M (2005) Patients’ knowledge of potential pelvic floor changes associated with pregnancy and delivery. Int Urogynecol J 17:22–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Fine P, Burgio K, Borello-France D, Richter H, Whitehead W, Weber A et al (2007) Pelvic Floor Disorders Network. Teaching and practicing of pelvic floor muscle exercises in primiparous women during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Am J Obstet Gynecol 197(1):107e1–107e5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Shaw C, Das Gupta R, Williams K, Assassa RP, McGrother C (2006) A survey of help-seeking and treatment in women with stress urinary incontinence. Br J Urogynecol Int 97:752–757

    Google Scholar 

  10. O’Donnell M, Lose G, Sykes D, Voss S, Hunskaar S (2005) Help-seeking and associated factors among women with urinary incontinence in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. Eur Urol 47:386–392

    Google Scholar 

  11. Milne JL, Moore KN (2006) Factors impacting self-care for urinary incontinence. Urol Nurs 26(1):41–51

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Bent AE, Gousse AE, Hendrix SL, Klutke CG, Monga AK, Yuen CK et al (2005) Validation of a two-item quantitative questionnaire for the triage of women with urinary incontinence. Obstet Gynecol 106(4):767–773

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Barber MD, Walters MD, Bump RC (2005) Short forms of two condition-specific quality-of-life questionnaires for women with pelvic floor disorders (PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7). Am J Obstet Gynecol 193:103–113

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Barber MD, Walters MD, Cundiff GW, PESSRI Trial Group (2006) Responsiveness of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ) in women undergoing vaginal surgery and pessary treatment for pelvic organ prolapse. Am J Obstet Gynecol 194(5):1492–1498

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Liao YM, Dougherty MC, Liou YS, Tseng IJ (2006) Pelvic floor muscle training effect on urinary incontinence, knowledge, attitudes and severity: an experimental study. Int J Nurs Stud 43:29–37

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Sampselle CM, Messer KL, Seng JS, Ragunathan TE, Hines SH, Diokno AC (2005) Learning outcomes of a group behavioural modification program to prevent urinary incontinence. Int Urogynecol J 16:441–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bump RC, Hurt WG, Fantl JA, Wyman JF (1991) Assessment of Kegel pelvic muscle exercise performance after brief verbal instruction. Am J Obstet Gynaecol 165(2):322–329

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Bo K, Kvarstein B, Nygaard I (2005) Lower urinary tract symptoms and pelvic floor muscle adherence after 15 years. Obstet Gynecol 105:999–1005

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Gallo ML, Staskin DR (1997) Cues to action: pelvic floor muscle exercise compliance in women with stress urinary incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn 16(3):167–177

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Gerard L (1997) Group learning behaviour modification and exercise for women with urinary incontinence. Urol Nurs 17(1):17–22

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. McFall SL, Yerkes AM, Cowan LD (2000) Outcomes of a small group educational intervention for urinary incontinence: episodes of incontinence and other urinary symptoms. J Health Aging 12:250–267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. McFall SL, Yerkes AM, Cowan LD (2000) Outcomes of a small group educational intervention for urinary incontinence: health-related quality of life. J Health Aging 12:301–317

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Bandura A (2004) Health promotion by social cognitive means. Health Educ Behav 31:143–164

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Branch LG, Walker LA, Wetle TT, DuBeau CE, Resnick NM (1994) Urinary incontinence knowledge among community-dwelling people 65 years of age and older. J Am Geriatr Soc 42(12):1257–1262

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Niewijk AH, Weijts WB (1997) Effects of a multi-media course on urinary incontinence. Patient Ed Counseling 30(1):95–103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflicts of interest

None.

Funding

Roxana Geoffrion received an unrestricted educational grant from Cook Canada. Jill Milne received unrestricted research funding from Cook Canada.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roxana Geoffrion.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Geoffrion, R., Robert, M., Ross, S. et al. Evaluating patient learning after an educational program for women with incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Int Urogynecol J 20, 1243–1252 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-0919-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-0919-5

Keywords

Navigation