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Supervised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), weight loss and exercise are recommended for overweight/obese women with urinary incontinence (UI). This study aimed to implement and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of a 12-week group exercise and healthy eating program (ATHENA) for overweight/obese women with UI. This study, using an implementation-effectiveness hybrid type 3 design, was conducted within a Women’s Health Physiotherapy outpatient service at an Australian tertiary public hospital. Intervention feasibility and acceptability were assessed through process evaluation of implementation, while clinical effectiveness was assessed via pre-/post-clinical and quality of life surveys. Process data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and effectiveness data were compared pre-/post-intervention using inferential statistics. Of 156 eligible patients, 37 (24%) agreed to participate; 29 (78%) completed the ATHENA program. Median (IQR) age and body mass index were 53 (47–65) years and 30.8 (29.1–34.8) kg/m2 respectively. ATHENA was feasible to implement, with all components delivered as intended and high participant satisfaction. Ninety-seven percent of participants reported improved UI symptoms (global rating of change) and significant improvements in overall pelvic floor dysfunction and quality of life utility scores (p = 0.001). While weight did not change, significant improvements were found in body-food choice congruence (intuitive eating scale-2; p

Urinary incontinence (UI) affects many women and impacts quality of life. Group-based interventions may be an effective and efficient method for providing UI care; however, interventions must be acceptable to patients to have an impact. This study aimed to explore patients’ perceptions of an exercise training and healthy eating group program (ATHENA) for overweight and obese women with UI. This qualitative descriptive study involved semi-structured interviews with a subset of participants sampled from a feasibility study of ATHENA. The ATHENA intervention was co-developed with end-users and implemented in Women’s Health Physiotherapy services at an Australian hospital. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. Eleven female patients participated (mean ± SD age 54.2 ± 9.9 years; body mass index 30.5 ± 3.25 kg/m2). Participants found ATHENA highly acceptable, with three themes emerging from interviews: (1) Participants’ journey of change through ATHENA, describing the shifts in knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and symptoms participants experienced; (2) High satisfaction with ATHENA, including educational content, exercise components and delivery style; and (3) Group setting integral to ATHENA’s success, with participants providing support, building friendships, and facilitating each other’s learning. Overall, ATHENA was acceptable to participants, who provided each other with peer support; an unexpected moderator to ATHENA’s success.

Background: Despite strong evidence for supervised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) for women with urinary incontinence (UI), and weight loss and exercise for overweight and obese women with UI, implementation literature on these combined interventions is limited. This paper aimed to describe the rigorous and systematic processes involved in the collaborative development, implementation, refinement and evaluation of a novel, holistic 12 week exercise training and healthy eating group program (ATHENA) for overweight and obese women with UI. Methods/Design: This intervention description paper is part of a larger mixed-methods feasibility study of implementing the ATHENA intervention within a physiotherapy service at a public hospital in Australia. The collaborative intervention design had input from clinicians, researchers and a consumer representative. Results: The intervention involved four evidence-based components&mdash, (1) supervised PFMT, (2) general exercise training, (3) pelvic health education, and (4) healthy eating education&mdash, delivered face to face over a 12 week period. Supporting resources developed included a Facilitator&rsquo, s Guide and Participant Workbook. Conclusion: ATHENA is an evidence-based, multifaceted, group-based intervention targeting exercise training and healthy eating for management of UI for overweight and obese women. The structured development process and transparency of intervention content and resources aims to enhance practical application and success in future studies.