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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the perception of urinary incontinence (UI) among Syrian women living in Sweden., Design: A qualitative, descriptive design with focus group discussions (FGDs) was used and analyzed with content analysis. Fourteen Syrian women were interviewed in three FGDs., Findings: Three categories emerged, "Thoughts on UI," "Managing UI," and "Communication With the Health Care System." Among the interviewees, UI was a common, and expected, problem, which could be managed. However, some expressed shame and embarrassment. Some talked about communication problems with health care., Discussion: The health care system should be adjusted to the women's needs, with awareness of the communication difficulties, which could result in misunderstanding and neglected treatments.

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyse differences in general health and general living conditions between women with and without urinary incontinence (UI)., Material and Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in Orebro County, Sweden. A public health questionnaire, "Life and Health", was sent to a randomly selected sample of the population. The questionnaire consisted of 87 questions on broad aspects of general and psychiatric health. An additional questionnaire was enclosed for those respondents who reported experiencing UI. The data were analysed using binary logistic regression. The final study population constituted 4609 women, 1332 of whom had completed both questionnaires. The remaining 3277 had completed only the Life and Health questionnaire. Effect measures were odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs)., Results: Statistically significant associations were found between UI and the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.20-1.76), fatigue and sleeping disorders (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.30-1.95), feelings of humiliation (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.12-1.50), financial problems (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.11-1.66), and reluctance to seek medical care (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.21-1.68)., Conclusion: UI among women is commonly associated with a number of different psychosocial problems as well as an expressed feeling of vulnerability.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe experiences of living with urinary incontinence (UI) among persons who do not desire further assessment and treatment., Methods: This was a qualitative, descriptive interview study, and the method was phenomenological. Eleven women were interviewed; all had been in contact with a district nurse to obtain a prescription for sanitary protection. None of the women desired further treatment for UI., Findings: The women described living with UI as a manageable problem with which they had learned to live. They showed strength and desire to manage on their own. In many cases, other health problems overshadowed leakage problems. Several women saw health care services as a barrier that needed to be overcome before help could be obtained. Three key constituents emerged in the analysis: "learning to live with it despite difficulties," "other illnesses are more important," and "reluctance to seek care." For these women, the essence of the phenomenon of living with urinary incontinence (UI) can described as "a situation to accept and adjust to."

Objective: To study and evaluate the effect of an information campaign in the form of a brochure on urinary incontinence (UI) directed towards the general public, concerning knowledge, individual health behaviour, self-reported healthcare utilization and how the information was perceived., Material and Methods: Within a community in central Sweden a random sample of the population, in age groups from 18 years upwards, was selected from the population registry, resulting in a total sample of 3,658 people. The study group was sent the brochure "Treatment of urinary incontinence", produced by SBU (Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care) in March 2003 and a questionnaire 1-2 months after the brochure was received., Results: The overall response rate was 47.5%. Eighty per cent of the responders stated UI as an important health problem in society and 66% that they had gained new knowledge on UI. Twenty-eight per cent of the responders reported a current or previous history of UI, of whom 49% felt that they had received useful information for self-treatment and 21% had begun self-treatment., Conclusion: This population-based study found that the distribution of a brochure on UI to the general public was well received and can be an efficient method to spread knowledge and encourage self-management.

Objective: To investigate why persons with urinary incontinence (UI) refrain from seeking care and treatment., Material and Methods: A population-based study was undertaken in which a public health survey and a specific UI questionnaire were sent to 15 360 randomly selected residents (age 18-79 years) of Orebro County, Sweden. For all persons reporting UI, the expressed wish for treatment or no treatment was analyzed in relation to relevant variables from both inquiry forms using binary logistic regression analysis., Results: The response rate was 64.5%. UI was reported by 2194 persons, 1724 of whom comprised the study population. A statistically significant association was found between the degree of UI and a desire for treatment. Persons who did not experience daily leakage and those who did not perceive the leakage as troublesome or having an affect on their daily life mostly stated that they did not desire treatment. Socioeconomic or other health-related factors were not associated with desiring or not desiring treatment for UI., Conclusions: Our results show that it is the perceived severity of UI that determines whether afflicted persons desire treatment or not. Other factors, relating to seeking healthcare in general, were not found to be of importance. Interventions to identify those in need of treatment for UI should primarily be directed towards those with severe symptoms.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of urinary incontinence in a representative population in Sweden, and to assess to what extent the condition affects daily life and to what degree those afflicted desire treatment., Material and Methods: In a population-based study, a postal questionnaire comprising 12 questions on urinary incontinence was sent to a representative sample of 15 360 randomly selected residents (aged 18-79 years) of Orebro County, Sweden. This was a supplement to a comprehensive survey of public health and general living conditions., Results: The response rate was 64.5%. The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 19% when defined as "any leakage" and 7% when defined as "at least once a week". Women were more afflicted than men, and the proportion of people with urinary incontinence increased markedly with increasing age. Most considered their problems to be minor, having little impact on daily life, which was reflected by the fact that only 18% of those with urinary incontinence desired treatment. About 17% of those with urinary incontinence reported severe problems that interfered with daily life. Of respondents with severe problems, 42% did not want treatment., Conclusion: According to this population-based study, urinary incontinence is not a major problem for most people in the community. Although a considerable proportion of the population report urinary incontinence, the majority experience minor problems and only 18% desire treatment. For a limited group of people, urinary incontinence is a severe problem. It is important that healthcare resources are optimized to identify and meet the needs of those who are most afflicted.

Objective. To validate the Swedish versions of the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6). Design and setting. Prospective study, university hospital. Population and method. We analyzed reliability, validity, and responsiveness in a clinical sample of 96 women with urinary incontinence. Main outcome measures. Construct and criterion validity, reliability via test-retest and internal consistency. Responsiveness via calculation of effect size. Result. Test-retest reliability ranged from moderate to almost perfect. Cronbach's alpha was 0.39 (UDI-6) and 0.83 (IIQ-7). Effect size calculation of change after treatment demonstrated good responsiveness. The effect size at six months was moderate in the Stress Urinary Incontinence group and small in the Urge Urinary Incontinence + Mixed Urinary Incontinence group. There was a moderate to strong correlation between UDI-6 and IIQ-7 and treatment satisfaction at six, 12, and 24 months for both groups. Conclusion. The UDI-6 scale did not produce the same solid result in the psychometric analysis as the IIQ-7 scale, but these newly translated Swedish forms of UDI-6 and IIQ-7 show good responsiveness and are easy to administer and to fill out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]