Structured Abstract
Objective
Fewer than half of women with urinary incontinence (UI) seek care for their condition. Our objective was to qualitatively assess themes surrounding treatment seeking behaviors.
Methods
We conducted 12 focus groups in women, and using purposive sampling we stratified by racial or ethnic group (White, Black, Latina) and by UI frequency. All sessions were transcribed and coded for common themes. Comparative thematic analysis was used to describe similarities and differences among groups.
Results
In total, 113 (39 White, 41 Black, and 33 Latina) community dwelling women participated in focus groups. There were no differences in treatment seeking themes between groups with different UI frequency. However, certain themes emerged when comparing racial/ethnic groups. Women from all groups shared experiences of embarrassment and isolation due to UI, which were impediments to care seeking. White and Black women described discussions with close friends or family that led to normalization of symptoms, and prevented care seeking. Latina women maintained more secrecy about UI and reported the longest delays in seeking care. Women articulated a higher likelihood of seeking care if they had knowledge of treatment options, but White women were more likely to seek UI-related knowledge compared to Black or Latina women. Physician communication barriers were identified in all groups.
Conclusions
Despite similar experiences, there are different perceptions about care seeking among White, Black, and Latina women. Culturally relevant educational resources that focus on a range of treatment options may improve knowledge and thus improve care seeking behaviors in women with UI.