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Are women's needs being met by specialist health services managing urinary incontinence in the remote Top End NT ?
Author(s) -
Bonner Alexandra,
Boyle Jacqueline
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/ajo.12601
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , audit , outreach , urinary incontinence , family medicine , nursing , surgery , management , political science , law , economics
Background Urinary incontinence ( UI ) is likely to be high in Aboriginal women in rural Australia due to risk factors including high body mass index, parity and diabetes. However, UI appears to be under‐reported with limited information on whether women access appropriate care. Aims To assess whether women who access specialist gynaecological services in rural and remote Top End Northern Territory ( NT ) through the specialist outreach program ( SONT ) are receiving care for UI aligned with best practice. Methods Review of all 1426 SONT referrals in 2012, with audit of management for those women referred for UI or prolapse. Results Of 1426 SONT referrals, there were 43/1426 (3%) women referred for UI , with 34/43 (79%) attending. Of those referred, 31/43 (72%) were Aboriginal. Of twenty‐six women diagnosed with probable stress UI , less than a fifth, 5/26 (19%), were referred to physiotherapy, with 2/5 (40%) attending appointments. Referral occurred for 14/23 (61%) of those suitable for urodynamics but only 6/14 (43%) attended. Just under half of women 7/16 (14%) with stress UI were referred for surgery, with 6/7 (86%) attending. Conclusion In rural and remote Top End NT , specialist health service management of female UI could be improved by increased provision of current best‐practice and an integrated multi‐disciplinary team approach with allied health. Under‐reporting and under‐referral for female UI could be addressed by increasing awareness among community and primary healthcare providers of the problem of female UI and the conservative, medical and surgical treatments available.