Help‐seeking behaviour for urinary incontinence: experience from a university community

The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of help‐seeking care among these populations for UI, identify potential reasons for seeking care and explore the barriers against seeking help. Participants who were aged >50 years who attended the Healthy Ageing Khon Kaen University Campus Project from March 2012 to October 2013 were recruited. It was a cohort study that was specific for major geriatric syndromes. All participants with a UI over the past 12 months were asked questions using self‐administered questionnaires. Information on baseline characteristics was also collected. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to analyse the outcomes. Seventy participants were recruited. The median age was 57 and most of them were women (77·71%). Only 15 of them had sought help (21·43%, 95% confidence interval 12·52, 32·87%). Independent factors associated with help‐seeking care using multiple logistic analyses were severity of UI (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 42·94) and greater frequency of UI (adjusted OR 1·48). The main reason for not seeking help was the belief of normalcy of UI (77·86%). About one‐fifth of Thai pre‐retired and older adults with UI had sought help. Severity and frequency of UI were the independent factors associated with the reasons for seeking care. Barriers of not seeking care were similar to previous reports.
Source: International Journal of Urological Nursing - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Research Paper Source Type: research