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- Title
Digital Care Program for Urinary Incontinence in Females: A Large-Scale, Prospective, Cohort Study.
- Authors
Janela, Dora; Areias, Anabela C.; Molinos, Maria; Moulder, Robert G.; Magalhães, Ivo; Bento, Virgílio; Cardeano, Marta; Yanamadala, Vijay; Correia, Fernando Dias; Atherton, Jennesa; Costa, Fabíola
- Abstract
Female urinary incontinence (UI) is highly prevalent in the US (>60%). Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) represents first-line care for UI; however, access and adherence challenges urge new care delivery models. This prospective cohort study investigates the feasibility and safety of a remote digital care program (DCP) combining education and PFMT with real-time biofeedback with an average duration of 10 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the Urinary Impact Questionnaire—short form (UIQ-7) from baseline to program-end, calculated through latent growth curve analysis (LGCA). Secondary outcomes included the impact of pelvic conditions (PFIQ-7), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), productivity impairment (WPAI), intention to seek additional healthcare, engagement, and satisfaction. Of the 326 participants who started the program, 264 (81.0%) completed the intervention. Significant improvement on UIQ-7 (8.8, 95%CI 4.7; 12.9, p < 0.001) was observed, corresponding to a response rate of 57.3%, together with improvements in all other outcomes and high satisfaction (8.9/10, SD 1.8). This study shows the feasibility and safety of a completely remote DCP with biofeedback managed asynchronously by a physical therapist to reduce UI-related symptoms in a real-world setting. Together, these findings may advocate for the exploration of this care delivery option to escalate access to proper and timely UI care.
- Subjects
URINARY incontinence treatment; TELEREHABILITATION; CONFIDENCE intervals; KEGEL exercises; ONE-way analysis of variance; BIOFEEDBACK training; T-test (Statistics); QUESTIONNAIRES; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; CHI-squared test; RESEARCH funding; DATA analysis software; WOMEN'S health; PATIENT safety; LONGITUDINAL method
- Publication
Healthcare (2227-9032), 2024, Vol 12, Issue 2, p141
- ISSN
2227-9032
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/healthcare12020141