Urinary incontinence: Evaluation of an information campaign directed towards the general public.
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.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Franzén
Karin
K
Department of Clinical Medicine and Section of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orebro University Hospital, Sweden. karin.franzen@orebroll.se
Johansson
Jan-Erik
JE
Andersson
Gunnel
G
Nilsson
Kerstin
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult