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. 2022 Sep;17(3):188-195.
doi: 10.1007/s11884-022-00655-6. Epub 2022 May 25.

Women's Knowledge of Bladder Health: What We Have Learned in the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium

L M Rickey  1 , D R Camenga  2 , S S Brady  3 , B R Williams  4 , J F Wyman  5 , M A Brault  6 , A L Smith  7 , D Y LaCoursiere  8 , A S James  9 , M D Lavender  10 , L K Low  11 ; Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium
Affiliations

Women's Knowledge of Bladder Health: What We Have Learned in the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium

L M Rickey et al. Curr Bladder Dysfunct Rep. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The goal of this manuscript is to review the current literature on bladder health education, summarize Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) [50] findings on environmental factors that influence knowledge and beliefs about toileting and bladder function, and describe how PLUS work will contribute to improved understanding of women's bladder-related knowledge and inform prevention intervention strategies.

Recent findings: Analysis of focus group transcripts revealed the various ways women view, experience, and describe bladder function. In the absence of formal bladder health educational platforms, women appear to develop knowledge of normal and abnormal bladder function from a variety of social processes including environmental cues and interpersonal sources. Importantly, focus group participants expressed frustration with the absence of structured bladder education to inform knowledge and practices.

Summary: There is a lack of bladder health educational programming in the USA, and it is unknown to what degree women's knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs influence their risk of developing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The PLUS Consortium RISE FOR HEALTH study will estimate the prevalence of bladder health in adult women and assess risk and protective factors. A Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs (KAB) questionnaire will be administered to determine KAB around bladder function, toileting, and bladder-related behaviors, and examine the relationship of KAB to bladder health and LUTS. The data generated from PLUS studies will identify opportunities for educational strategies to improve bladder health promotion and well-being across the life course.

Keywords: Bladder education; Bladder health; Bladder knowledge; Incontinence prevention; Toileting; Women’s health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest S.S. Brady reports grants from 1 U24DK106786, during the conduct of the study. B.R Williams reports grants from NIH-NIDDK, during the conduct of the study. J.F. Wyman reports grants from National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders/National Institutes of Health, during the conduct of the study. A.S. James reports grants from NIH, during the conduct of the study; grants from NCI, outside the submitted work. M.A. Brault reports grant K01TW011480 from the Fogarty International Center at NIH, outside the submitted work. L.M. Rickey, D.R. Camenga, A.L. Smith, D.Y. LaCoursiere, M.D. Lavender, and L.K. Low declare that they have no conflict of interest. Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium declare no conflict of interest.

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