title: Are postpartum women in denmark being given helpful information about urinary incontinence and pelvic floor exercises?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine where and from whom postpartum women recalled receiving information about urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic floor exercises (PFEs), the helpfulness of this information, and their preferred sources of help with UI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who had recently given birth in a Danish hospital (N = 439) were mailed a survey that elicited information about their experiences of receiving information about UI and PFEs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surveys were returned from 266 women, representing a response rate of 61%. Although almost all participants recalled receiving information about PFEs (95%), only half (55%) recalled being provided with information about UI. Midwives were the health care professionals who most commonly provided women with information about UI (33%) and PFEs (55%). Women generally perceived the information as being helpful, with the information from physiotherapists obtaining the highest mean ratings for helpfulness. Postpartum women indicated that they would prefer to consult with continence nurses or general nurses if they experienced UI. Health care professionals did not consistently provide postpartum women with information on UI and PFEs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A coordinated multidisciplinary approach is needed to ensure that women are adequately informed about the risk of developing UI after childbirth and the ways in which this condition can be managed or resolved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Regional Hospital Viborg, PO Box 130, DK-8800 Viborg, Denmark. inge.lise.hermansen@viborg.RM.dk
authors.forename: Inge Lise
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Hermansen
authors.forename: Bev
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Cadeyrn J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gaskin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult