W Stuart Reynolds1, Casey Kowalik2, Melissa R Kaufman1, Roger R Dmochowski1, Jay H Fowke3. 1. Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee. 2. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee. 3. Department of Urology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Because current knowledge about public restroom use and bladder health is limited, we sought to identify why women avoid public restrooms and the associations of lower urinary tract symptoms and toileting behaviors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October and December 2017 we recruited a convenience sample of U.S. women to complete a cross-sectional, anonymous questionnaire about public restroom use, lower urinary tract symptoms (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms [ICIQ-FLUTS]) and toileting behavior (Web-Based Toileting Behavior [TB-WEB]). We compared women who reported limiting public restroom use all or most of the time to those who did not limit or did so occasionally or sometimes. RESULTS: Of the 6,004 women in the study 26% limited public restroom use most or all of the time and were more concerned with cleanliness than those who did not limit public restroom use. They also reported more often using nonsitting positions when away from home and holding urine to avoid public restrooms, higher ICIQ-FLUTS scores, more frequent overactive bladder and fewer than 7 voids a day. CONCLUSIONS: A large number of women reported avoiding public restrooms, often over concerns of cleanliness, availability of amenities and privacy. Women who habitually limit public restroom use more frequently reported unhealthy toilet behaviors and lower urinary tract conditions. These findings will help guide future research and inform public policy and bladder health awareness.
PURPOSE: Because current knowledge about public restroom use and bladder health is limited, we sought to identify why women avoid public restrooms and the associations of lower urinary tract symptoms and toileting behaviors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October and December 2017 we recruited a convenience sample of U.S. women to complete a cross-sectional, anonymous questionnaire about public restroom use, lower urinary tract symptoms (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms [ICIQ-FLUTS]) and toileting behavior (Web-Based Toileting Behavior [TB-WEB]). We compared women who reported limiting public restroom use all or most of the time to those who did not limit or did so occasionally or sometimes. RESULTS: Of the 6,004 women in the study 26% limited public restroom use most or all of the time and were more concerned with cleanliness than those who did not limit public restroom use. They also reported more often using nonsitting positions when away from home and holding urine to avoid public restrooms, higher ICIQ-FLUTS scores, more frequent overactive bladder and fewer than 7 voids a day. CONCLUSIONS: A large number of women reported avoiding public restrooms, often over concerns of cleanliness, availability of amenities and privacy. Women who habitually limit public restroom use more frequently reported unhealthy toilet behaviors and lower urinary tract conditions. These findings will help guide future research and inform public policy and bladder health awareness.
Entities:
Keywords:
lower urinary tract symptoms; public health; toilet facilities; urinary incontinence; women
Authors: Sonya S Brady; Tamara G Bavendam; Amanda Berry; Cynthia S Fok; Sheila Gahagan; Patricia S Goode; Cecilia T Hardacker; Jeni Hebert-Beirne; Cora E Lewis; Jessica B Lewis; Lisa Kane Low; Jerry L Lowder; Mary H Palmer; Jean F Wyman; Emily S Lukacz Journal: Neurourol Urodyn Date: 2018-08-22 Impact factor: 2.696
Authors: Casey G Kowalik; Adam Daily; Sophia Delpe; Melissa R Kaufman; Jay Fowke; Roger R Dmochowski; W Stuart Reynolds Journal: J Urol Date: 2019-01 Impact factor: 7.450
Authors: Omar Felipe Dueñas-Garcia; Maria Del Pilar Matta-Gonzalez; Kylie Fuller; Wei Fang; Robert Edward Shapiro Journal: Scientifica (Cairo) Date: 2019-11-03
Authors: Diane K Newman; Kathryn L Burgio; Charles Cain; Jeni Hebert-Beirne; Lisa Kane Low; Mary H Palmer; Ariana L Smith; Leslie Rickey; Kyle Rudser; Shelia Gahagan; Bernard L Harlow; Aimee S James; D Yvette Lacoursiere; Cecilia T Hardacker; Jean F Wyman Journal: Int J Nurs Stud Adv Date: 2021-11-10