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Secondary‐care treatment patterns in the UK for women with urinary incontinence
Author(s) -
Wagg Adrian,
Gupta Roben Das,
Assassa Philip,
Shaw Christine,
Mayne Chris,
Martin Mona
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2005.05723.x
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , urinary incontinence , secondary care , population , physical therapy , conservative treatment , intervention (counseling) , primary care , family medicine , surgery , nursing , environmental health
OBJECTIVES To describe the treatment trends for women with urinary incontinence (UI) after their referral from primary to secondary care, as despite the high prevalence of UI within the female population, relatively few women actively seek treatment for their UI and fewer reach secondary care. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the notes of patients attending in two randomly selected months in five hospital sites in the UK. Records were identified through outpatient clinic lists, surgery lists, nursing and physiotherapy lists. Data were collated and analysed for trends RESULTS In all, 412 women (mean age 54.6 years, sd 12.6) covering 1406 visits to secondary care were covered by the study. Most women had a symptomatic diagnosis of mixed UI and mild to moderate UI, as defined by their physician. Most women had conservative therapies by either continence nurses or physiotherapists, regardless of the severity of their condition; 73% had cystometry and 39% were recommended for surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS Women largely undergo similar procedures in secondary care. Most present with mixed UI. The perceived severity of disease did not preclude a trial of conservative therapies.