Group versus individual sessions delivered by a physiotherapist for female urinary incontinence: an interview study with women attending group sessions nested within a randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to explore the concerns and expectations of women invited to attend group physiotherapy sessions for the management of female urinary incontinence and whether the experience changed their views; and to gather recommendations from women attending group sessions on the design and delivery of these sessions


METHODS
An interview study nested within a randomised controlled trial in five British NHS physiotherapy departments, including 22 women who had expressed a preference for an individual physiotherapy session but were randomised to, and attended, group sessions.


RESULTS
Embarrassment was woven throughout women's accounts of experiencing urinary incontinence and seeking health care. Uncertainty about the nature of group sessions was a source of concern. Attending the first session was seen as a big hurdle by many women. However, a sense of relief was common once the session started, with most women describing some benefit from attendance. Recommendations for design and delivery of the sessions from women focused on reducing embarrassment and uncertainty prior to attendance.


CONCLUSIONS
Taking account of women's embarrassment and providing detailed information about the content of group sessions will enable women to benefit from group physiotherapy sessions for the management of female urinary incontinence.


BACKGROUND



BACKGROUND
ISRCTN 16772662.
Griffiths
Frances
F
Health Sciences Research Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK. F.E.Griffiths@warwick.ac.uk
Pepper
Jo
J
Jørstad-Stein
Ellen C
EC
Smith
Jan Fereday
JF
Hill
Lesley
L
Lamb
Sarah Sallie E
SS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*