title: Mismatch between Arab women's preferences and options offered for treatment of stress urinary incontinence in the United Arab Emirates.
abstract: Stress urinary incontinence is a relatively common condition with a high burden of suffering that can be treated effectively with minimally invasive surgery. Treatment preferences for this condition in Arab women are not known, especially in regard to willingness to undergo surgery. In this survey of 404 women across the United Arab Emirates, 99 had self-reported stress urinary incontinence and 51% of these stated they would undergo surgery. This preference was not related to age, parity, education or severity of incontinence. However, of the 24 women who sought medical advice, only 5 recalled being offered surgical management by their physicians. Other treatments offered included medication (29%), pelvic exercise (38%) and bladder training (25%). Even though half of the Arab Emirati women with stress urinary incontinence in our study were willing to undergo surgery, this treatment is not being offered routinely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.forename: M H S
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Al Belooshi
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Al Hebsi
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bloushi
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Balfaqeeh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Midfa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*