Urinary incontinence in women: treatment barriers and significance for Danish and German GPs

Abstract

Background Female urinary incontinence (UI) is common. Only scant information exists on the significance of UI for GPs’ consultations. Objectives (i) To assess the significance of female UI for GPs and to look at barriers that could be detrimental to treatment by comparing GPs from Denmark and Germany, with different health systems and access to UI guidelines. (ii) To assess whether GPs’ gender and age were relevant to the discussion of UI. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey. In the Fehmarn belt-region, a Danish–German border region, a self-developed questionnaire was sent to all the GPs (n = 930). Results In total, 407 GPs returned the questionnaire (43%); 403 questionnaires were analysed. Using a scale from 0 (never) to 10 (always), addressing UI was reported with an average score of 3.8 (SD: 2.1) among Danish and 3.5 (SD: 2.1) among German GPs. The topic was discussed more frequently with female (4.2; SD 2.2) than with male GPs (3.2; SD 2.0). Danish GPs estimated the prevalence among their female patients at 10% (SD: 8.0) and German GPs at 14% (SD: 11.2). 61% of the Danish and 19% of the German GPs used UI guidelines. German GPs significantly more often reported the barrier ‘uncertainty of how to treat UI’ [OR = 5.39 (95% CI: 2.8; 10.4)]. Conclusions In consultations with female GPs, UI was discussed significantly more frequently than with male GPs. Compared with the Danish GPs, German GPs stated significantly more uncertainties regarding UI treatment measures, and tended not to use UI guidelines.

An international study of clinical, demographic and competence-related determinants of communication with professionals

“…These gender differences have been related to factors such as differences in communication preferences [31]. Some studies have found that if patients and professionals have the same gender, there may be an effect on communication with regard to issues such as female urinary incontinence [32,33]. It would be interesting to conduct more studies with professionals and patients of the same gender.…”

Care provider views on app-based treatment for female urinary incontinence: A mixed-methods study

“…Male care providers could have a different view on the role of eHealth for UI, which might be underrepresented in our study. In Germany and Denmark, female GPs reported discussing UI in consultations more frequently than male GPs, suggesting that GP gender might be a barrier to UI treatment for women [33]. Moreover, most participants had no prior experience of app treatment for UI, and at the time of data collection, results of the URinControl trial had not been published.…”

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