Practitioner’s knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices towards urinary incontinence

Background One in three women in South Africa suffer from urinary incontinence. Effective management is influenced by patients help-seeking behaviour and services offered by healthcare professionals within the healthcare system. Current practice towards urinary incontinence management in South Afric...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The South African journal of physiotherapy 2023, Vol.79 (1), p.1860-1860
Main Authors: Janse van Vuuren, Anika C., van Rensburg, Jacobus A., Hanekom, Susan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Anatomy & Morphology
Attitude
belief
Health care industry
Health Care Sciences & Services
Knowledge
Medical personnel
Original Research
Physiology
practice
Primary healthcare
Rehabilitation
Urinary incontinence
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Summary:Background One in three women in South Africa suffer from urinary incontinence. Effective management is influenced by patients help-seeking behaviour and services offered by healthcare professionals within the healthcare system. Current practice towards urinary incontinence management in South Africa is unknown.Objectives Our study aimed to describe and compare urinary incontinence practice and knowledge of nurses and physicians (practitioners) working in primary healthcare settings, measured against the NICE 2013 guideline and explore attitudes and beliefs towards urinary incontinence management.Method Cross-sectional study using a self-designed online questionnaire. All primary healthcare practitioners in the Western Cape were eligible for the study. Stratified random and snowball sampling was used. Data was analysed in consultation with a statistician using SPSS.Results Fifty-six completed questionnaires were analysed. Practitioners had an overall knowledge score of 66.7% and practice score of 68.9% compared to NICE 2013 guidelines. A lack of knowledge regarding urinary incontinence screening, following up on patients and conducting bladder diaries were noted. Pelvic floor muscle training and bladder training education was recognised as initial management but only 14.8% of practitioners referred patients to physiotherapy. Half of the sample reported being uncomfortable with urinary incontinence, although the majority wanted to learn more about urinary incontinence.Conclusion The knowledge and practices of practitioners working at a primary healthcare level in the Western Cape are not congruent with NICE 2013 guidelines.Clinical implications Data can be used to inform intervention planning to address urinary incontinence management at a primary healthcare level in the Western Cape.
ISSN:0379-6175
2410-8219
2410-8219
DOI:10.4102/sajp.v79i1.1860