Public understanding of female genital anatomy and pelvic organ prolapse (POP); a questionnaire-based pilot study

Introduction and hypothesis Health literacy underpins informed consent and shared decision-making. In gynaecology, this includes understanding of normal anatomy and urogenital disease. This study evaluated public knowledge of external female genital anatomy and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods A...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Urogynecology Journal 2022-02, Vol.33 (2), p.309-318
Main Authors: El-Hamamsy, Dina, Parmar, Chanel, Shoop-Worrall, Stephanie, Reid, Fiona M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clinical decision making
Decision making
Ethnicity
Female
Females
Genitalia, Female
Gynecology
Health literacy
Humans
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Original
Original Article
Pelvic organ prolapse
Pelvic Organ Prolapse - complications
Pilot Projects
Questionnaires
Surveys and Questionnaires
Urology
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Summary:Introduction and hypothesis Health literacy underpins informed consent and shared decision-making. In gynaecology, this includes understanding of normal anatomy and urogenital disease. This study evaluated public knowledge of external female genital anatomy and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods A questionnaire study asked participants for their demographics and to label a female external genitalia diagram and included free-text questions on POP, its symptoms and treatment. Questionnaires were distributed at general outpatient (OPD) and urogynaecology (UG) departments at a UK teaching hospital. Differences in the number of correct anatomy labels between participant genders were assessed via chi-squared tests and, within female participants, multivariable linear and logistic regressions assessed associations with increasing correct anatomical labels and an understanding (versus no understanding) of POP, respectively. Results Within 191 ( n  = 160 OPD, n  = 31 UG), 9/103 (9%) labelled all anatomical structures correctly. Females had more correct labels (median 1, IQR 0,3) versus males (median 0, IQR 0,1), P  = 0.022). Higher education (vs. 
ISSN:0937-3462
1433-3023
DOI:10.1007/s00192-021-04727-9