[Clinical path and life quality of women under 75 years with an urinary incontinence relevant to surgical treatment]

Objectives: Urinary incontinence has a high prevalence and a significant impact on quality of life, especially for women. Surgery is possible after failure of lifestyle changes, physiotherapy. Analyzing the care pathway of women under 75 years of age who have undergone surgery for urinary incontinence in link with recommendation and suggest possible improvements.

Methods: Quantitative, multicentric, retrospective survey carried out between 10/09/2019 and 25/11/2019, based on anonymous self-report questionnaire, among women aged between 32 and 75 and operated in different hospitals in Loire (France).

Results: Ninety-three answers were exploited out of 204. Among the women, 49.5 % had stress, 50.5 % mixed incontinence. Before the intervention, it had evolved for 5 years on average and caused discomfort evaluated at an average 7.5/10. Eighty percent frequently used protective pads and bladder training. Lifestyle changes and the voiding diary were not used much. Eighty-six percent of women felt comfortable to speak to a physician. Seventy-three percent had performed a urodynamic test, 47 % an abdominal ultrasound and 40 % a urinalysis. Seventy-seven percent performed physiotherapy, 39 % self-administered physiotherapy, 7 % used medication. The postoperative quality of life was evaluated at 7.8/10; 58 % felt healed and 69 % considered their sex life had improved.

Conclusions: The care pathway could be improved through systematic screening for urinary incontinence and its impact. The development of a care plan to coordinate and propose quick care could help patients to improve their life.