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Self‐reported toileting behaviors in employed women: Are they associated with lower urinary tract symptoms?
Author(s) -
Palmer Mary H.,
WillisGray Marcella G.,
Zhou Fang,
Newman Diane K.,
Wu Jennifer M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
neurourology and urodynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1520-6777
pISSN - 0733-2467
DOI - 10.1002/nau.23337
Subject(s) - toileting , medicine , urination , urinary leakage , urinary system , lower urinary tract symptoms , odds ratio , logistic regression , urinary incontinence , body mass index , physical therapy , surgery , activities of daily living , prostate , cancer
Aims To describe toileting behaviors working women habitually use and investigate behaviors associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), especially urinary urgency with or without leakage. Methods Non‐pregnant female employees of a large academic medical center 18 years and over were eligible to complete an online survey about bladder health and toileting behaviors. Results One hundred eighty‐two women participated in the survey. The majority were white (83.52%), married (52.49%), had ≥1 pregnancy (54.40%), and in excellent health (93.41%). The average age and body mass index were 47.28 ± 13.56 years and 27.92 ± 6.78, respectively. The sample was further sub‐divided into two groups: urinary urgency ( N = 119) or no urinary urgency symptoms ( N = 51). Habitual toileting behaviors for these groups ( N = 170) included: sitting to urinate at home (98.24%), emptying the bladder completely (88.82%), emptying the bladder before leaving home (80.00%), and sitting to urinate when away from home (68.82%). Logistic regression analysis showed age increased the odds of urinary urgency (aOR 1.06, 95%CI 1.02‐1.09). Women who waited too long to urinate at work (aOR 7.85, 95%CI 1.57‐39.24) and wore panty liners for urinary leakage (aOR 2.86, 95%CI 1.25‐6.56) had greater odds of urinary urgency than women who did neither. Conclusions Most habitual toileting behaviors were not associated with urinary urgency except waiting too long to urinate when at work. Logistic regression revealed significant relationships among health‐related factors, personal characteristics, behaviors, and urinary urgency. LUTS in women is both a women's health and occupational health issue.