title: Do women with pelvic floor dysfunction referred by gynaecologists and urologists at hospitals complete a pelvic floor muscle training programme? A retrospective study, 1992-2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For decades women with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) have been referred to pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), but there is only little information on whether the women complete the programmes and why. The objectives of this study were to investigate to which extent women completed a PFMT programme to which they were referred by gynaecologists and urologists and to identify associated factors for completion.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a hospital-based, retrospective clinical design women with PFD referred to a free PFMT programme as outpatients were included. The PFMT programme consisted of: (a) vaginal digital palpation test of PFM, (b) individual instructions, (c) introduction (theory), (d) weekly supervised PFMT in groups for 3 months (12 sessions) and (e) progressive home exercises (10 sets).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were analysed in 1,544 women, mean age 54 (SD 13) years, with PFD (urinary incontinence, n = 1,214; anal incontinence, n = 41; pelvic organ prolapse, n = 162; other PFD, n = 127). In total 747 (48 %) subjects completed (attended ≥8 sessions) the PFMT programme, 466 (30 %) dropped out and 331 (22 %) cancelled or stayed away. Age, year of referral and nationality were significantly different (p < 0.01) between completers and non-completers. Likewise, year of referral, distance from home to hospital, waiting list times and diagnosis were significantly different (p < 0.01) between dropouts and subjects who cancelled or stayed away.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that less than half of the women with PFD completed a PFMT programme to which they were referred by gynaecologists and urologists. The most important associated factors for completion were age, year of referral and nationality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark. sigrid@tibaek.dk
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tibaek
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dehlendorff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005006:Ethnicity; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013038:Specialization; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D014572:Urology