Urinary incontinence frequency in women who applied to the family health center

Abstract

Objective: The studies which investigate urinary incontinence (UI) are fairly few in our country. To contribute scientific data in this subject, we planned this study to evaluate women between 40-65 ages who are in the list of 41.08.040 numbered family practice unit of İzmit Kuruçeşme Family Health Center.

Methods: This descriptive study was performed in family practice unit number 41.08.040 of İzmit Kuruçeşme Family Health Center. The data of fifty-five women were collected from the women between 40-65 ages who applied to the family practice unit between february and march of 2012. The excluding criteria were neurogenic bladder, malignancy, acute urinary infection and pregnancy. In this study, we used questionnaire forms ICIQ-SF and OAB-V8 which have been studied for validity and reliability before. The datas were analized in SPSS 13.0 software. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were done.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 53.6 years. According to ICIQ-SF questionnaires, 34,5 % (n:19) of patients had UI while 65% (n:36) of patients had no UI. According to Analog Scale, QOL was 5 or more than 5 in 19 patients who had incontinence. According to OAB-V8: the answer was “Very few” in 63.6% of the patients answered nocturia question as “Very few”.

Conclusion: In our study, the urinary incontinence rate was 34.5% in our study population. This study emphasize that experience of physicians in the subject of UI should be improved in primary health care units. According to our experience, the usage of ICIQ-SF and OAB-V8 questionnaire forms are easy to use in primary health care instutions. We strongly advise the using of those questionnaire forms in primary health care units. Our study is still continueing and more data are required in this stage.