Factors Influencing Care-Seeking Behavior for Urinary Incontinence in Women and encouraging screening for OAB

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common and treatable condition affecting many women, yet only about one-third seek medical care. Embarrassment and perception of UI as a typical aspect of ageing are frequently identified as reasons for not seeking care for UI, a finding that this study corroborates.

The aim of the study was to determine the factors associated with care-seeking behaviour in women with UI, to enhance early identification and to encourage early management of the condition. 

Study Overview

The cross-sectional study involved 485 women who completed a comprehensive survey consisting of 60 questions. The survey utilized data from the National Association for Continence's Second Annual State of Incontinence Survey and covered various aspects including demographics, symptomatology, emotional and social impacts, and financial expenditure on UI management. Patient-reported data was collected from November 2018 to January 2019.

The majority of participants were aged over 55, had two or three children, had been suffering from UI for more than four years. 30,7% had not sought care for their UI, while 69,3% had.

Women who sought medical care for their UI reported a higher incidence of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, such as:

- Increased frequency of micturitions during the day,

- Nocturia,

- Urgency episodes,

- Involuntary leakage on the way to the toilet.

These women also reported spontaneous and constant UI, along with significant bladder and pelvic pain.

Emotional and social effects of UI

Women seeking care reported higher levels of anger, depression, hopelessness and isolation than women who did not seek care. However, both groups of women reported similar levels of shame and embarrassment due to UI.

Socially, women who obtained medical assistance for UI were more likely than others to report having had UI accidents in public and having missed social events because of their condition. They were also more likely to report that UI affected their social activities, such as dining out, exercising, attending family events, engaging in intimate relationships, traveling, and fulfilling social commitments. Women who did not seek to consult for their UI were more likely to report that their partner was unaware of their condition. 

Discussing UI with a doctor

Among care-seeking women, 92.3% had initiated a conversation about their condition with a doctor. 

The most common reasons cited by those who did not bring up the topic included:

-Prioritizing other health issues during their medical consultations,

-Feeling too embarrassed to talk about their UI,

-Believing that UI was a normal part of aging and therefore not a concern to address with their doctor.

It should be noted that the parameters associated with care-seeking were increasing age and the daily frequency of UI, as well as monthly expenditure for its management. 

The data gathered from this study clearly indicate a pressing need for the strategic development and deployment of comprehensive screening campaigns. Such initiatives are essential to facilitate early detection of urinary incontinence, to educate women about the condition, and to encourage those affected to seek appropriate treatment.

Read the article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38484253/ 

To access to the complete publication, please contact medical_information@pierre-fabre.com 

HQ--06-24-2400026 - 06/2024