Technical update nº 433: eHealth solutions for urinary incontinence among women

The purpose of this technical update is to establish the state of the science regarding emerging and novel electronic health (eHealth) and mobile health (mHealth) solutions for urinary incontinence among women. Target population Women over 18 years with urinary incontinence. Websites and mobile health applications are useful in the conservative care of urinary incontinence. Relevant care providers should be familiar with such tools, particularly those that use motivational principles for behaviour change, which can be used as adjunct tools for urinary incontinence care. Telemedicine is an effect mode to provide services for the conservative care of urinary incontinence. Use of eHealth and mHealth solutions has potentially significant health outcomes for patients, providers, and global health systems. Broader use of telemedicine, in and of itself, could improve care access and reduce costs incurred by patients and the health care system. Evidence for the efficacy of eHealth and mHealth technologies and applications for urinary incontinence ranges from weak to strong. However, the research landscape for many of these novel solutions is developing rapidly. Furthermore, these options have minimal or no harm and confer an established cost benefit and care access benefit. The Cochrane Library, Medline, EMBASE, CENTRAL databases (from January 2014 to April 2019) were searched to find articles related to conservative care of urinary incontinence in women (over 18 years) and studies on eHealth and mHealth interventions for urinary incontinence. Articles were appraised, and the collective evidence was graded. The authors rated the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. See online Appendix A (Tables A1 for definitions and A2 for interpretations of strong and conditional [weak] recommendations). Relevant primary care providers and medical specialists, including physicians, nurses, midwives, and pelvic health physiotherapists.

Cross-Sectional Study of the Prevalence and Symptoms of Urinary Incontinence among Japanese Older Adults: Associations with Physical Activity, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Well-Being.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a major social problem for older adults and leads to a decline in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mental health, and physical activity. This study assessed the prevalence and symptoms of UI among older adults discharged from the hospital in Japan and investigated the association of UI symptoms with physical activity, HRQoL, and subjective well-being (SWB). By an international consultation, the Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF) that assesses UI severity, was developed. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess physical activity, HRQoL, SWB, and social demographic characteristics of the participants. In total, 145 participants (valid response rate, 48%; mean age, 78.6 ± 7.6 years) were included in the analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant factors associated with the presence of UI. Significant decreases in physical activity, HRQoL, and SWB were observed in patients with UI compared with those without UI (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that age, number of reported conditions, and decreased SWB were associated with UI (p < 0.05). UI was associated with less physical activity and decreased mental health status in older adults (especially decreased SWB). Health-promoting measures for older adults with UI are essential for maintaining their well-being and extending healthy life expectancy.

Incontinence in frail elderly persons: Report of the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based guidelines for the management of frail older persons with urinary incontinence are rare. Those produced by the International Consultation on Incontinence represent an authoritative set of recommendations spanning all aspects of management. AIMS: To summarize the available evidence relating to the management of urinary incontinence in frail older people published since the 5th International Consultation on Incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of systematic reviews and evidence updates were performed by members of the working group to update the 2012 recommendations. RESULTS: Along with the revision of the treatment algorithm and accompanying text, there have been significant advances in several areas of the management of lower urinary tract symptoms in frail older people. DISCUSSION: The committee continues to note the relative paucity of data concerning frail older persons and draw attention to knowledge gaps and research opportunities. Clinicians treating older people with lower urinary tract symptoms should use the available evidence from studies of older people combined with careful extrapolation of those data from younger subjects. Due consideration to an individual's frailty and wishes is crucial.

A meta-ethnography to understand the experience of living with urinary incontinence: 'is it just part and parcel of life?'

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence (UI) is highly prevalent and affects the lives of many men and women. We aimed to conduct a qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) to explore the experience of living with UI and to develop a conceptual model that can help us to understand this experience, and the potential barriers to appropriate healthcare. METHODS: We used the methods of meta-ethnography developed by Noblit and Hare and recently refined for larger studies. Meta-ethnography involves identifying concepts from the studies and abstracting these concepts into a line of argument. We searched for studies that explored the experience of adults with UI. We used the GRADE-CERQual framework to assess confidence in review findings. RESULTS: We screened 2307 titles, 429 abstracts, 107 full texts and included 41 studies (36 unique samples) in the synthesis. We organised the concepts into 26 conceptual categories, which we further abstracted into 6 themes: (1) Am I ill or is this normal? (2) It effects who I am and how I feel; (3) I feel stigmatised, ashamed and guilty; (4) talking can be difficult but it can help; (5) keeping incontinence under control; (6) have I got to the point that I need help? Our model conceptualises living with UI as navigating antagonists: Is UI normal or am I ill? Do I need help or am I managing? Do I keep UI to myself (and manage alone) or do I tell other people (and get the support that I need)? Do I use control strategies that focus on concealing (avoid risky situations, wear pads) versus, I use strategies that focus on improving the bodily function to improve continence. Our model highlights the experience of stigma, shame and guilt which exert a pull towards concealment. CONCLUSIONS: The culture of secrecy and profound sense of shame is barrier to seeking help. An environment which reduces the shame and stigma of UI may help people to switch the focus to strategies that will improve continence, rather than conceal incontinence.

Differences in Pelvic Floor Symptoms During Pregnancy Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Women.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe and compare pelvic floor symptoms and symptom burden between nulliparous Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women in the third trimester of pregnancy and to determine, in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), whether bother differs between groups, adjusted for UI severity. METHODS: In this cross-sectional analysis, participants completed the Epidemiology of Prolapse and Incontinence and Incontinence Severity Index questionnaires. We compared differences in symptom domains between groups using logistic regression and tested the effect of ethnicity on bother in women with SUI using linear regression. RESULTS: The sample comprised 418 non-Hispanic white and 154 Hispanic women. Prevalence rates of symptom domains ranged from 5.0% and 7.1% for pelvic organ prolapse to 95.2% and 94.2% for overactive bladder in non-Hispanic white and Hispanic women, respectively. After adjusting age, height, weight, education, physical activity, and gestational age, non-Hispanic whites had 2.37-fold increased odds (95% confidence interval, 1.44-3.92) for defecatory dysfunction and had nonsignificant increases in other symptom domains. Non-Hispanic whites were more likely to endorse symptoms in 3 or more domains than Hispanic women (58.9% vs 40.3%, respectively; P = 0.0001). Given the same UI severity (Incontinence Severity Index), Hispanic women with SUI reported 7.5 points greater bother (Epidemiology of Prolapse and Incontinence) than non-Hispanic white women (P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: After adjustment, we found few differences in the prevalence of pelvic floor symptom domains between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women, apart from defecatory dysfunction. If differences by ethnicity in other pelvic floor symptoms exist, they do not seem to originate during the first pregnancy.

Repeat prostate biopsies prior to radical prostatectomy do not impact erectile function recovery and mid- to long-term continence.

BACKGROUND: A growing number of men undergo repeat biopsies prior to radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. However, the long-term impact of repeat biopsies on functional outcomes in this patient population remains unelucidated. Thus, we compared functional outcomes between patients who underwent single biopsy versus repeat biopsies before radical prostatectomy. METHODS: From 1996 to 2015, 1015 consecutive patients underwent radical prostatectomy, and subsequently had urinary continence and erectile function assessed for >2 years follow-up. One-fourth of patients (275; 27%) had ≥2 biopsies before prostatectomy. Logistic regression models tested whether repeat biopsy before prostatectomy predicted continence or erectile function recovery. RESULTS: For the overall cohort, continence rates were 84%, 92%, 96%, and 98% at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Repeat biopsy before prostatectomy was associated with lower continence rate at 3 months compared to single biopsy (P = 0.03); however, no significant differences were observed at 6, 12, or 24 months. In multivariable analyses adjusting for age, body mass index and diabetes/cardiovascular disease/smoking, the association between repeat biopsy and lower likelihood of continence at 3 months remained (odds ratio 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.47-0.97; P = 0.03). Overall erectile function recovery rates were 16%, 33%, 51%, and 55% at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. No difference in erectile function recovery rates was seen at any time point for single biopsy versus repeat biopsy. In multivariable analyses, repeat biopsy was not predictive of erectile function recovery at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat biopsy before radical prostatectomy impairs early continence after surgery. However, erectile function recovery and mid-term to long-term continence are not affected. These data support the current trend towards active surveillance and delayed local treatment in patients with low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Reliability and validity of the Incontinence Quiz-Turkish version.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Incontinence Quiz, which was developed by Branch et al. (1994), to assess women's knowledge of and attitudes toward urinary incontinence. METHODS: Comprehensibility of the Turkish version of the 14-item Incontinence Quiz, which was prepared following translation-back translation procedures, was tested on a pilot group of eight women, and its internal reliability, test-retest reliability and construct validity were assessed in 150 women who attended the gynecology clinics of three hospitals in Içel, Turkey. Physical and sociodemographic characteristics and presence of incontinence complaints were also recorded. Data were analyzed at the 0.05 alpha level, using SPSS version 22. RESULTS: The scale had good reliability and validity. The internal reliability coefficient (Cronbach α) was 0.80, test-retest correlation coefficients were 0.83-0.94; and with regard to construct validity, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin coefficient was 0.76 and Barlett sphericity test was 562.777 (P = 0.000). Turkish version of the Incontinence Quiz had a four-factor structure, with Eigenvalues ranging from 1.17 to 4.08. CONCLUSIONS: The Incontinence Quiz-Turkish version is a highly comprehensible, reliable and valid scale, which may be used to assess Turkish-speaking women's knowledge of and attitudes toward urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence and quality of life of women living in nursing homes in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the effect of urinary incontinence (UI) on the quality of life of women living in nursing homes in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. METHODS: The study was conducted on 95 women living in nursing homes in the Mediterranean region. Data were collected from a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life Scale, the Index of Activities of Daily Living, and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form. RESULTS: The quality of life of women who did not consider UI a health problem was significantly higher than that of those who considered otherwise. Mixed UI was the most common UI type among the women living in nursing homes, with a rate of 31.7%. According to the overall mean scores on the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life Scale, quality of life was the most affected among women who had nocturnal incontinence. Quality of life was affected from most to least by the mixed type, stress type, and urge type of incontinence. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and treatment of UI could be improved if health professionals, who have a unique role in changing the perception of society, offered training to women experiencing incontinence. Identifying this problem and determining and preventing the risk factors are important for enhancing women's quality of life.

Unsettling the fistula narrative: cultural pathology, biomedical redemption, and inequities of health access in Niger and Ethiopia.

Obstetric fistula, a maternal childbirth injury that results in chronic incontinence, affects an estimated one million women in the global south. In the course of media and donor coverage on this condition, fistula sufferers have been branded as 'child brides' who, following the onset of their incontinence, become social pariahs and eventually find physical and social redemption through surgical repair. This narrative framing pits the violence of 'culture' against the potency of biomedical salvation. Based on over two years of ethnographic research at fistula repair centres in Niger and Ethiopia, this paper challenges this narrative and argues that most women with obstetric fistula remain embedded in social relations, receive continued familial support, and, unexpectedly, experience ambiguous surgical outcomes. This paper interrogates the existing logics of the fistula narrative that have had the unintended effects of obscuring global structural inequalities and diverting attention away from systemic health access reforms.

Racial Variation in Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Treatment for Localized Prostate Cancer: Results from the CEASAR Study.

BACKGROUND: Relatively little is known about the relationship between race/ethnicity and patient-reported outcomes after contemporary treatments for localized prostate cancer. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that treatment-related changes in urinary, bowel, sexual, and hormonal function vary by race/ethnicity. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The Comparative Effectiveness Analysis of Surgery and Radiation (CEASAR) study is a prospective, population-based, observational study that enrolled 3708 men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer in 2011-2012. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Patient-reported disease-specific function was measured using the 26-item Expanded Prostate Index Composite (EPIC) at baseline and 6 and 12 mo after enrollment. Mean treatment differences in function were compared by race using risk-adjusted generalized estimating equations. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: While all race/ethnic groups reported considerable declines in scores for urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy (RP) when compared to active surveillance, African-American men reported a greater difference than white men did (adjusted difference-in-differences 8.4 points, 95% confidence interval 2.0-14.8; p=0.01). No difference in bother scores was noted and the overall proportion of explained variation attributable to race/ethnicity was relatively small in comparison to primary treatment and baseline function. No clinically significant racial variation was noted for the sexual, bowel, irritative voiding, or hormone domains. Limitations include the lack of well-established thresholds for clinical significance using the EPIC instrument. CONCLUSION: While these data demonstrate that incontinence at 1 yr after RP may be worse for African-American compared to white men, the difference appears to be modest overall. Treatment selection and baseline function explain a much greater proportion of the variation in function after treatment. PATIENT SUMMARY: We observed that the effect of treatment for prostate cancer on patient-reported function did not vary dramatically by race/ethnicity. Compared to white men, African-American men experienced a somewhat more pronounced decline in urinary continence after radical prostatectomy, but the corresponding changes in bother scores were not significantly different between the two groups.

Urinary Incontinence and Health-Seeking Behavior Among White, Black, and Latina Women.

OBJECTIVE: Fewer than half of women with urinary incontinence (UI) seek care for their condition. Our objective was to qualitatively assess the themes surrounding treatment-seeking behaviors. METHODS: We conducted 12 focus groups with women and, using purposive sampling, we stratified by racial or ethnic group (white, black, Latina) and by UI frequency. All sessions were transcribed and coded for common themes. Comparative thematic analysis was used to describe similarities and differences among groups. RESULTS: In total, 113 (39 white, 41 black, and 33 Latina) community-dwelling women participated in focus groups. There were no differences in treatment-seeking themes between groups with different UI frequency. However, certain themes emerged when comparing racial/ethnic groups. Women from all groups shared experiences of embarrassment and isolation because of UI, which were impediments to care seeking. White and black women described discussions with close friends or family that led to normalization of symptoms and prevented care seeking. Latina women maintained more secrecy about UI and reported the longest delays in seeking care. Women articulated a higher likelihood of seeking care if they had knowledge of treatment options, but white women were more likely to seek UI-related knowledge compared with black or Latina women. Physician communication barriers were identified in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar experiences, there are different perceptions about care seeking among white, black, and Latina women. Culturally relevant educational resources that focus on a range of treatment options may improve knowledge and thus improve care-seeking behaviors in women with UI.

The health of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The health of Aboriginal Australians is poorer than that of all other Indigenous cultures in developed nations, and recent studies suggest high rates of dementia and other conditions that are common in old age. This has implications for health promotion, provision of services and planning for older age in these communities. This article provides an overview on the health of Older Aboriginal Australians.

Bladder Symptoms and Attitudes in an Ethnically Diverse Population.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess pelvic floor symptoms and attitudes in an ethnically diverse population. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of women presenting to 2 community-based, ethnically diverse gynecology clinics. Before being seen by a provider, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 312 women were included: 32.7% white, 50.3% African American, and 17.0% Hispanic. Other racial/ethnic groups were excluded secondary to small samples size. The median (interquartile range) age was 34.0 (27.0-44.0) years. The groups differed with respect to most demographic characteristics, such as income, education, and nation of origin. Nocturia and urinary frequency were the most commonly reported symptoms. African American respondents were more likely to report nocturia than white respondents (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.8). Respondents' views of normal urinary function generally did not vary by race/ethnicity. However, Hispanic respondents were less likely than white respondents to agree that it is normal to leak urine after having children (odds ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.68). Among women who reported at least 1 symptom, 46.7% reported that at least 1 symptom bothered them, and this did not differ with respect to race/ethnicity (P ≥ 0.59). African American respondents were more likely than whites to report their urinary leakage to their doctors (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that with few exceptions, bladder symptoms and attitudes are similar among reproductive-age women of various racial/ethnic groups in a community setting.

Does Race Influence Health-related Quality of Life and Toxicity Following Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer?

OBJECTIVE: This matched-paired analysis explores disparities in health-related quality of life (QOL) and common toxicities between African American (AA) and white patients following proton therapy for prostate cancer at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1536 men with clinically localized prostate cancer were treated from 2006 to 2009 with definitive proton therapy to a median dose of 78 Gy +/- androgen deprivation therapy. A cohort of 92 consecutively treated AA men was matched to a cohort of 92 white men on the basis of National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk category and age. The 2 groups were compared with regard to comorbidities, demographics, and treatment regimen. Differences in genitourinary and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events scale and QOL data from the Expanded Prostate Index Composite 26-question questionnaire were reported. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 2.1 years. Baseline patient and treatment characteristics were similar between the 2 groups with the exception of prostate-specific antigen ≥10 (32% for AAs vs. 20% for whites; P=0.068) and use of androgen deprivation therapy (26% for AAs vs. 21% for whites; P=0.38). No difference in Expanded Prostate Index Composite 26-question sexual summary, urinary incontinence, urinary obstruction, or bowel summary scores was detected between the 2 groups, nor was there a difference in grade 2 or higher GI toxicity (P=0.45). AAs had a statistically nonsignificant higher absolute incidence of late grade 3 genitourinary toxicity (4.4% vs. 0%; P=0.12). CONCLUSIONS: After 2 years, there were no disparities in health-related QOL, physician-reported Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events GI toxicity, or biochemical relapse. Longer follow-up is needed to confirm these findings.

Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Disparities as Possible Risk Factors for Development of Incontinence by Nursing Home Residents.

Incontinence is a common health problem among nursing home (NH) residents. Differences between black and white NH residents in incontinence prevalence have been reported. Although reducing health disparities is a principal objective of the national health care agenda, little is known about disparities in incidence of new incontinence in NHs. The purpose of this study was to assess whether there were racial/ethnic disparities in the time to development of incontinence in adults over age 65 who had been continent on NH admission. If no racial or ethnic disparities in time to incontinence were found, other predictors of time to incontinence would be explored. Three national databases were sources of data on 42,693 adults over 65 admitted to 446 for-profit NHs in a national chain. Multi-level predictors of time to any type of incontinence were analyzed, using Cox proportional hazards regression for white Non-Hispanic NH admissions and the Peters-Belson method for minority NH admissions: American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Asians/Pacific Islanders, Black non-Hispanics, and Hispanics. No racial/ethnic disparities in time to incontinence were found. Approximately 30% of all racial/ethnic groups had developed incontinence by 6 months. Those who developed incontinence sooner were older and had greater deficits in activities of daily living (ADL) and cognition. Results were consistent with past evidence and suggest that interventions to maintain continence from the time of admission should be applied across racial/ethnic groups.

24-Hour pad tests in Thai continent women.

BACKGROUND: Twenty-four hours pad test is a simple tool to establish the differential diagnosis between high amount of vaginal secretion and urinary incontinence, evaluate the severity, and assess the result after treatment in women with urinary incontinence problem. The normal value of 24-hour pad test has been studied in non-Thai population. However; this may be different based on race. Therefore, this value in Thai population is important. OBJECTIVE: Identify the normal value of 24-hour pad test in Thai continent women by accurately comparing pad's weight before and after use. The secondary objective was to identify the factor associating the amount of vulvo-vaginal secretion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Continent women were screened to exclude urinary incontinence by urogenital distress inventory (UDI-6) questionnaire. Participants were requested to use pad test for 24 hours. During study period, participants were advised to do their routine as usual but avoid exercise and sexual intercourse. Participants were able to change the pads as needed and asked to put the used pad in airtight plastic bag, kept them in a sealed envelope, and sent them to the researcher at their earliest convenience. Once received, the pads were kept in airtight plastic bag and were weighed. Weights were recorded. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty continent women were eligible to participate in the present study to determine the normal value of 24-hour pad test as our reference value. The median of 24-hour pad test was found to be 1.8 g of which the 95 percentiles was 4.7 g. The high amount of vaginal secretion were affected by premenopausal status, hormonal contraceptive used, and duration after menopause less than 5 years, which these factors were associated with estrogen. CONCLUSION: The authors developed a normal value of the 24-hour pad test that could be used as reference or initial information for further evaluation and diagnosis of urinary incontinence in Thai women.

Risk factors for obstetric anal sphincter injuries and postpartum anal and urinary incontinence: a case-control trial.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) cause serious maternal morbidity for mothers. A clearer understanding of aetiological factors is needed. We aimed to determine the risk factors for OASIS . METHODS: Birth details of 222 primiparous women sustaining OASIS were compared with 174 women who did not sustain OASIS (controls) to determine the relevant risk factors. The data underwent univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Asian or Indian ethnicity, operative vaginal birth (p = 0.00), persistent occipito-posterior position (p = 0.038) and rapid uncontrolled delivery of the head were identified as risk factors for OASIS. Pushing time, use of epidural, episiotomy and head circumference were not predictors of OASIS. CONCLUSIONS: Women with Asian or Indian ethnicity, operative vaginal birth, persistent occipito-posterior position and rapid uncontrolled delivery of the fetal head were likely to sustain OASIS. Awareness of these factors may help to minimise the incidence of OASIS.

Effects of stigma on Chinese women's attitudes towards seeking treatment for urinary incontinence.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine whether and how stigma influences attitudes towards seeking treatment for urinary incontinence, and whether its effect varies by symptom severity. BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is prevalent among women, but few seek treatment. Negative attitudes towards urinary incontinence treatment inhibit from seeking care. Urinary incontinence is a stigmatised attribute. However, the relationship between stigma and attitudes towards seeking treatment for urinary incontinence has not been well understood. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional community-based study. METHODS: We enrolled a sample of 305 women aged 40-65 years with stress urinary incontinence from three communities in a Chinese city between May-October in 2011. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, urinary incontinence symptoms, stigma and attitudes towards seeking treatment for urinary incontinence using a self-reported questionnaire. Effects of stigma were analysed using path analysis. RESULTS: Attitudes towards seeking treatment for urinary incontinence were generally negative. For the total sample, all the stigma domains of social rejection, social isolation and internalised shame had direct negative effects on treatment-seeking attitudes. The public stigma domain of social rejection also indirectly affected treatment-seeking attitudes through increasing social isolation, as well as through increasing social isolation and then internalised shame. The final model accounted for 28% of the variance of treatment-seeking attitudes. Symptom severity influenced the strength of paths: the effect of internalised shame was higher in women with more severe urinary incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Stigma enhances the formation of negative attitudes towards seeking treatment for urinary incontinence; public stigma affects treatment-seeking attitudes through internalisation of social messages. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Stigma reduction may help incontinent women to form positive treatment-seeking attitudes and engage them in treatment. Interventions should specifically target the self-stigma domains of social isolation and internalised shame in women with urinary incontinence to most efficiently increase their use of health care.

Barriers to urinary incontinence care seeking in White, Black, and Latina women.

OBJECTIVE: We compared barriers to urinary incontinence (UI) healthcare seeking between white, black, and Latina women. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of white, black, and Latina women. Women completed the Barriers to Incontinence Care Seeking Questionnaire (BICS-Q), the Incontinence Quality of Life Instrument (I-QOL), the Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis, and the Incontinence Severity Index (ISI). The primary objective was to assess barriers to UI care seeking among groups, as measured by the BICS-Q. Secondary objectives were to assess factors associated with barriers to incontinence care and to compare specific barriers using BICS-Q subscale scores. Regression analyses were used to further assess for differences among groups while adjusting for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: We included a total of 93 subjects, including 30 white, 33 black, and 30 Latina women. Mean I-QOL, Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis, and ISI scores were not significantly different among our 3 groups. Barriers, based on BICS-Q scores, were lowest in white women and higher in blacks and Latinas (2.9 vs 7.3 vs 10.9, respectively; P < 0.001). When adjusting for potential confounders such as age, income, education, presence of UI, ISI score, and I-QOL score, Latinas continued to demonstrate higher barriers compared with white or black women (ß = 7.4; 95% CI, 2.2-12.7; P = 0.006). There were no significant differences between black women compared with other groups in the adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Latinas experience more barriers to UI healthcare seeking compared with white and black women.