Urinary incontinence and awareness of pelvic floor muscles training among physiotherapy students - a cross sectional survey
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Areej Qadan1, Noa Ben Ami2 |
| 1. Qadan, undergraduate student, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Israel 2. Dr Ben Ami, PT, PhD, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Israel |
| Abstract |
| Background: Urinary incontinence is a common phenomenon, which significantly affects quality of life. This study aims to examine the prevalence of urine leakage among physiotherapy students, and their awareness and frequency of pelvic floor muscles training. |
| Methods: A cross-sectional study using questionnaires was conducted. Participants included 106 physiotherapy students at Ariel University. The research tool was a self-report questionnaire that included demographic questions as well as items from the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, which was translated from English to Hebrew and found to be reliable and valid. An online version of the questionnaire was sent to the participants. |
| Results: It was found that 15% of the students suffer from urinary incontinence. Though awareness of pelvic floor muscles training was very high (87.7%), only five (7.1%) of the women reported that they regularly trained their pelvic floor muscles, and none of the male participants reported doing so. Eighteen women (25.7%) reported occasional training compared with four males (11.1%). A statistically significant difference (p <0.016) was found in favor of women regarding pelvic floor muscles training. Of the students who reported urinary incontinence, only one student stated that she regularly trained her pelvic floor muscles. Seven students (53.8%) reported that they train the pelvic floor muscles occasionally, and five (38.4%) did not train them at all. |
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Discussion and Conclusions: Urinary incontinence was found to have a high frequency of 15% among physiotherapy students. In addition, a high level of awareness of pelvic floor muscles training was found. However, the frequency of actual practice was very low. |
| Keywords: urinary incontinence, pelvic floor muscles training, physiotherapy students. |
