Marta Bailón Queiruga1, Aina Delgado-Morell2, Marta Peró Garcia2,3, Sandra Coll Girona4, Ignasi Gich Saladich3,5, Oriol Porta Roda2. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Mas Casanovas, 90, 08025, Barcelona, Spain. bailonmarta@gmail.com. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Mas Casanovas, 90, 08025, Barcelona, Spain. 3. Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital Dexeus Mujer, Barcelona, Spain. 5. CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is common in women but few seek medical attention. Poor recognition of the condition as pathological and unawareness of treatments may account for low consultation rates. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on an online survey that was responded to in February and March 2020 by 768 female university students. Knowledge of PFD was assessed using the Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire (PIKQ). Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using IBM-SPSS (V26.0). RESULTS: Respondents had poor knowledge of PFD and especially of pelvic organ prolapse. Health science students (n = 531; 69.1%) obtained significantly higher scores (p < 0.001) than other students (n = 237; 30.9%). Those who had received information on how to perform pelvic floor muscle training were more likely to score higher than those who had not received previous information. CONCLUSIONS: While health science students have better knowledge of PFD than other students, university students in general are little aware of PFD. Most students considered the issue of PFD to be important and wanted more information. Our findings may be useful in planning strategies to raise women's awareness of PFD and its prevention and treatment.
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is common in women but few seek medical attention. Poor recognition of the condition as pathological and unawareness of treatments may account for low consultation rates. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on an online survey that was responded to in February and March 2020 by 768 female university students. Knowledge of PFD was assessed using the Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire (PIKQ). Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using IBM-SPSS (V26.0). RESULTS: Respondents had poor knowledge of PFD and especially of pelvic organ prolapse. Health science students (n = 531; 69.1%) obtained significantly higher scores (p < 0.001) than other students (n = 237; 30.9%). Those who had received information on how to perform pelvic floor muscle training were more likely to score higher than those who had not received previous information. CONCLUSIONS: While health science students have better knowledge of PFD than other students, university students in general are little aware of PFD. Most students considered the issue of PFD to be important and wanted more information. Our findings may be useful in planning strategies to raise women's awareness of PFD and its prevention and treatment.
Authors: Vatche A Minassian; Xiaowei Yan; Marc J Lichtenfeld; Haiyan Sun; Walter F Stewart Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2012-04-12 Impact factor: 2.894