[Women's strategies for coping with urinary incontinence]

Area of Science:

• Qualitative Health Research
• Nursing
• Sociology

Context:

• Focuses on women with urinary incontinence (UI) who have not had success with conservative treatments and have no access to surgical options.
• Explores the lived experiences of these women within a specific theoretical framework (grounded theory and symbolic interactionism).

Purpose:

• To present a component of the theoretical model 'Between suffering and hope: rehabilitation of urinary incontinence as an intervenient component'.
• To analyze the coping process of women experiencing UI without surgical prospects.
• To identify moral and psychosocial vulnerabilities within this patient group.

Summary:

• The study identified significant moral and psychosocial vulnerability among women experiencing urinary incontinence after conservative treatment failure and lacking surgical options.
• This vulnerability increases susceptibility to health risks and compromises quality of life.
• The findings highlight the need for research into physician disbelief as a barrier to effective surgical treatment.

Impact:

• Highlights the critical need for improved patient support and access to care for women with refractory urinary incontinence.
• Underscores the importance of addressing psychosocial factors in managing chronic conditions.
• Calls for further investigation into systemic barriers, including physician attitudes, affecting treatment access and patient outcomes.