Relationships among symptom severity, coping styles, and quality of life in community-dwelling women with urinary incontinence: a multiple mediator model

Do patients undergoing physical therapy in a rehabilitation center have a high prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction and psychological disorders? A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and its relationship with anxiety in a population undergoing physical therapy treatment in Rehabilitation Centers seems to have been little investigated in the literature.

OBJECTIVE

1) to investigate the prevalence of PFD, anxiety, depression; 2) to assess quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing physical therapy in a Rehabilitation Center, 3) to compare the results by sex; and 4) to assess the relationship between PFD and anxiety, depression, and QoL.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included participants receiving physical therapy care in a Rehabilitation Center. Validated questionnaires were used to assess PFD, QoL, depression, and anxiety. The Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and a binary logistic regression model were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

253 participants (56.9% female) were included, 45% of them reported at least one PFD symptom. Females had higher prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) (28% vs 14%); constipation (25% vs 10%); sexual dysfunction (75% vs 9%); anxiety (47% vs 35%); and depression (34% vs 17%) than males. A weak correlation was found between anxiety and depression with UI and sexual dysfunction for females. For all participants, poor QoL was found in physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain and emotional role. Being elderly (OR: 2.58 [1.24, 5.37]), partnered (OR: 1.82 [1.04, 3.17]), female (OR: 3.38 [1.91, 5.99]), and anxious (OR: 2.03 [1.14, 3.62]) were risk factors for reporting PFD.

CONCLUSION

This study found a high prevalence of PFD symptoms in patients attending a Rehabilitation Center. All symptoms except fecal incontinence were more prevalent in females than in males. There was a weak correlation between UI with QoL and psychological disorders among females.

Nursing assistants' knowledge, attitudes and training needs regarding urinary incontinence in nursing homes: a mixed-methods study

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence is an increasingly common problem, especially among older people in nursing homes. Nursing assistants are the leading workforce in nursing homes, and their knowledge and attitudes regarding urinary incontinence have garnered considerable attention in the context of aging in China. However, most previous studies on this issue have focused on registered nurses. This study aimed to explore nursing assistants' knowledge, attitudes and training needs with regard to urinary incontinence.

METHODS

We conducted a two-part mixed-methods study. After institutional manager approval, we surveyed the knowledge and attitudes of 509 nursing assistants regarding urinary incontinence. We carried out semi-structured interviews with 40 nursing assistants to elicit detailed information on training needs.

RESULTS

In general, knowledge about urinary incontinence was poor (14.00 ± 4.18), although attitudes were primarily positive (35.51 ± 3.19). Most nursing assistants were very willing to learn more about urinary incontinence (93.9%, 478/509), but time constraints and low educational background may be barriers to learning motivation. The three preferred training styles among nursing assistants were face-to-face guidance from a mentor, training combining theory with practice, and online video training.

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese nursing assistants had poor knowledge but positive attitudes toward urinary incontinence. Facility managers should focus on developing training and learning mechanisms regarding urinary incontinence. It is important to adopt diverse training styles according to the actual situation of nursing homes.

Non-medication coping strategies for urinary incontinence in older adults: factors associated with frequency of use

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of the use of non-medication coping strategies for urinary incontinence in older adults.

METHODS

This methodological and cross-sectional study was conducted in 320 older adults. The data of the study were collected using a personal information form and a urinary incontinence questionnaire form regarding the frequency of the use of non-medication coping strategies for urinary incontinence. Within the scope of the validity and reliability study of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha, factor analysis tests, KMO, Bartlett's test, and principal components analysis were used. Descriptive statistics, independent t test, ANOVA, and correlation test were also used for data. The statistical accepted significance level was p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants in the study was 75.54 ± 9.34 years. Older adults who are illiterate, who are single, who have a chronic disease, who are at an advanced age, who are women, who describe having urinary incontinence during activities, who always experience leaking urine, whose diapers or underwear get wet, who share these issues with their relatives, and who do not consult a doctor because they are afraid of being examined were all found to have a higher frequency of use of coping strategies for urinary incontinence (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study recommends carrying out studies to raise awareness about urinary incontinence in older adults. In addition, this study suggests that the questionnaire applied to older adults study subjects regarding the frequency of the use of non-medication coping strategies for urinary incontinence might be used for all age groups.

Illness experience and coping styles of young and middle-aged patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a qualitative study

Background

The incidence of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) is increasing and tends to occur at a young age. The patient’s disease experience during treatment is related to their physical and mental health. Effective coping styles such as proactively solving problems and asking for help will alleviate the patients’ psychological symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Aims and objectives

To explore the illness experience and coping styles of young and middle-aged patients with SSNHL (age: 18–64 years), clarify the relationship between the two, and understand the psychological state and needs of the patients.

Methods

The purposive and maximum difference sampling method was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 23 young and middle-aged SSNHL patients. The interview data were analyzed by Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis.

Results

The illness experience of young and middle-aged SSNHL patients was complex, including symptoms during the onset of deafness and emotional experience before and after diagnosis. The coping styles of young and middle-aged SSNHL patients were active and diverse, including active acquisition of information, change in living habits, and seeking the care and attention of medical staff. Illness experience and coping style influence each other: good illness experience leads to active coping styles; active coping style results in good illness experience.

Conclusions

The illness experience of young and middle-aged SSNHL patients includes not only physical symptoms, but also changes in psychological and emotional reactions. Good illness experience can lead patients to adopt active coping style. Active and effective coping styles, such as positive acquisition of information, change in living habits and seeking care and help, can improve patients’ illness experience.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-06763-z.

The prevalence of urinary incontinence in men and women aged 40 years or over in China, Taiwan and South Korea: A cross-sectional, prevalence-based study

OBJECTIVES

To assess prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI), including urgency UI (UUI), stress UI (SUI) and mixed UI (MUI) in individuals aged ≥40 years in China, Taiwan and South Korea.

METHOD

This was a post hoc analysis of a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based internet survey. Participants were asked questions relating to urinary symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health (using the HRQoL 12-item short form health survey mental health and physical domains, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), visits to healthcare professionals (HCPs) for any reason or for urinary symptoms, treatments for urinary symptoms and treatment satisfaction.

RESULTS

Of 8284 survey participants, 1818 (22%) reported any UI (men 17.3%, women 26.4%). MUI was the most prevalent (overall 9.7%, men 6.8%, women 12.6%) followed by SUI (overall 7.9%, men 5.1%, women 10.7%) and UUI (overall 4.3%, men 5.5%, women 3.2%). HRQoL, anxiety and depression scores were poor in all participants with UI; MUI was associated with the worst scores. Of the participants with UI, 46.9% visited HCPs for urinary symptoms (highest proportion [62.7%] among participants with MUI). Approximately 80% of participants with UI followed treatment, with prescribed medicine being the most common form (38.1%). Over half of participants (59.6%) were somewhat, very, or extremely satisfied with their treatment. MUI was associated with least satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

UI was associated with substantial problems, including an adverse impact on HRQoL. Medication failed to satisfy many individuals with UI. Efforts to educate the public and physicians about the impact of UI could improve diagnosis and treatment rates.