Pedersen LS, et al. – In this study, analysts assess the predictors and reasons for help–seeking behavior among women with urinary incontinence (UI) in Germany and Denmark. Only a small proportion of women with UI had consulted a physician, and the driving forces for help–seeking behavior were severity and duration of UI and actively looking for data in regards to UI. Public information campaigns might enhance consultation rates providing that passively receiving and actively looking for data have these similar consequences on help–seeking behavior. They demonstrate for the first time that reasons for not consulting a physician for UI vary depending on the severity of the UI.

Methods

• In 2014, an international postal survey was conducted.
• In this study, total 4,000 women of at least 18 years of age were randomly selected in each country.
• The questionnaires included validated items with respect to help–seeking behavior and the ICIQ–UI SF.
• UI was characterized as any involuntary loss of urine.
• Binary logistic regression investigation was utilized to evaluate factors predicting help–seeking behavior.
• Reasons for seeking or not seeking help were assessed in terms of the severity of UI and as the most frequently reported.

Results

• Of 1,063 Danish women with UI, 25.3% had consulted a physician compared with 31.4% of 786 German women with UI (p = 0.004).
• The severity and duration of UI, and actively looking for data with respect to UI, were significant independent predictors of help–seeking behavior.
• Women with slight/moderate UI did not seek help because they did not consider UI as a problem, whereas of women with severe/very severe UI, German women reported that other illnesses were more important and Danish women reported that they did not have enough resources to consult a physician.