Determining incontinence awareness, attitude, and frequency in female students enrolled in the Faculty of Health Sciences

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to determine urinary incontinence awareness, attitude, and frequency among female students studying at a faculty of health sciences.
Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 458 female students enrolled in a university's faculty of health sciences between February 2023 and April 2023. The data of the study were collected using a "Personal Information Form" and an "Incontinence Awareness and Attitude Scale" prepared by the researchers. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and ANOVA test were used to evaluate the data.
Results: The mean age of the students was 21.17±1.70, and only 2% had been diagnosed with urinary incontinence during their lifetime. The mean scores of the students in the sub-dimensions of incontinence awareness were found as follows: factors affecting acceptance of incontinence as a health problem 32.98±5.13, health motivation 7.15±2.51, coping with urinary incontinence 17.25±5.77, limitation 10.54±3.38, and fear of urinary leakage 11.47±4.34.
Conclusion: The mean score of female students on the urinary incontinence awareness scale, factors preventing acceptance of incontinence as a health problem, coping with urinary incontinence, health motivation, and limitation sub-dimensions were found to be at a good level.