A.C.N.L. Fernandes1, D. Palacios-Ceña2, C.C. Pena1, M.F. Sidou1, A.L. de Alencar1, J. Hay-Smith3, C.H.J. Ferreira1
1University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, 2University Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain, 3University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
Background: Pelvic floor muscle training efficacy requires sufficient exercise adherence. Education in health is an intervention function that may support patient capability, motivation and behavioral skill for pelvic floor muscle training performance at the beginning of the rehabilitation program.
Purpose: To explore perspectives of women participating in a group education program about the pelvic floor and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Methods: This is a qualitative exploratory longitudinal study including women who participated of a pelvic floor education group. Semi-structured interview was conducted at one week, three months and 5 to 16 months after the education activity. Inductive content analysis was conducted.
Results: Of those women who were potentially eligible; 19 attended the first interview (11 individual and four dyadic interviews), 14 contributed at three months (all conducted individually by phone) and nine between five to 16 months (three interviews including two to four participants each). A total of 32 interviews were conducted and 1165 minutes of interviews were recorded. Women considered the content and delivery appropriate and useful. Women had assimilated new knowledge, shared it with others, and many tried to adopt pelvic floor muscle training as part of daily life. They felt the education sessions might benefit other women, with and without pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms, and that pelvic floor education would ideally be more widely available. A perception of the value of the education persisted over time, even though maintenance of some health-promoting behaviours such as pelvic floor muscle training, decreased. The adherence modifiers varied throughout the three interviews and to each participant.
Conclusion(s): The education activity program had content and delivery methods appropriated and useful according to the participants.
Implications: This study could help physiotherapists to structure a pelvic floor education group while considering participants' needs.
Funding, acknowledgements: Ana Carolina Nociti Lopes Fernandes and Caroline Caetano Pena received scholarship from Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel
Keywords: Health education, pelvic floor
Topic: Pelvic, sexual and reproductive health
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University of São Paulo
Committee: School Health Center - Ribeirão Preto Medical School
Ethics number: CAAE 59592816.4.0000.5414
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
