Factors Associated with Help Seeking Behavior of Turkish Women with Urinary Incontinence; A Single Center Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the patient and urinary incontinence-related factorsaffecting help seeking behavior of Turkish women with undiagnosed urinary incontinenceSTUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 490 female patients aged >18 years oldand were seen in general gynecology outpatients' clinic of Denizli State Hospital. According to referralcomplaint and results of UDI-6 questionnaire, the participants were classified into 3 groups: Group A:Help seeker patient, Group B: Non help seeker patient and Group C: Continent patient.RESULTS: Overall urinary incontinence prevalence was 24%. Nearly two thirds (67%) of the urinary incontinence patients do not complain about their urinary incontinence symptoms unless they were askedspecifically about urinary incontinence. Consultation rate increased with age, duration of incontinence,menopause and the severity of urinary incontinence. After logistic regression analyses, only increasingage, UDI-6 score and severity (SSI) were found to be associated independently with help seeking behavior.CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that, older, more bothered and severe urinary incontinence patients visit physician and seek medical help. Still nearly half of women who are suffering from clinicallysignificant urinary incontinence remain undiagnosed and untreated. Regardless the visiting reason if itsasked specifically for urinary incontinence symptoms by using simple questionnaires, we can reveal anddiagnose this patients' group who is suffering from urinary incontinence but yet keeps it disguise.