Effectiveness of Continence Education Program and its impact on improving health-seeking behavior of Omani women with UI

Urinary Incontinence (UI) is defined as the involuntary leakage of urine (Abrams, Cardozo, and Fall et al., 2002). UI is a common condition prevalent among women that incapacitate the daily activities of women resulting in social withdrawal and also markedly diminishes the quality of life, still many women feel shy to disclose this condition to their physicians, nurses or midwives (Friedman and Stothers, 2011; Irwin et al., 2011). In countries like Oman, the cultural and gender differences may result in shyness among women who hide their symptoms, which increase the "hidden" burden of the disease. This may lead to incorrect evaluation of the prevalence and promotion of preventive interventions for UI among the healthcare professionals. This study will prove the effectiveness of continence promotion program in increasing awareness and health-seeking behavior, and this indeed improves the Quality of Life. Also this study aid in bringing out the severity of the problem and identification of the risk factors causing UI that in turn will help to plan the continence promotion program. It is mandatory to identify the common risk factors of UI especially in the Middle East countries because of the existence of cultural issues and the availability of minimal evidence related to UI. The result of this study would open up newer angles of curative services through early detection, development of interventions and treatment thus reaching out to many women silently suffering from UI. This study will be conducted in 2 phases. The first phase to identify the women with UI, the severity and the risk factors of UI and the second phase is to develop and impart educational program (Video-assisted) to the women with UI. The first phase of the study will be conducted in the female OPD?s of SQUH (Sultan Qaboos University Hospital) using cross-sectional descriptive design. QUID (Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis) and ICIQ-UI-SF (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire) are standardized tools that will help to collect data regarding the prevalence and severity of symptoms of Urinary Incontinence (Roslin Botlero, 2009; Kerry Averyl, 2004). A valid and reliable structured Questionnaire, which will be used to explore the various risk factors, associated with this condition. By the result of the first phase, Continence Education Package (Video-assisted) will be developed, and one to one education will be given to those who were identified having UI in Phase I. Chi Square Analysis will be used to analyze the statistical significance of differences in proportions of categorical data. Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression analysis will study the factors associated with types of UI and various forecasters. The effectiveness of continence education package will be done with a pre and posttest questionnaire and will analyze using t-test. The effectiveness of the intervention on health-seeking behavior will be done keeping an interval time of 3 months.