Using the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire to Improve Urinary Incontinence Assessments for Female Veterans.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Women's Health
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Urinary incontinence (UI) significantly impacts the quality of life (QoL) for female veterans.
• A standardized approach to assessing QoL and tailoring treatment for UI in this population was lacking.
• The Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7) is a tool to measure UI-related QoL.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of UI treatments on QoL in female veterans using the PFIQ-7.
• To determine if QoL assessments were consistently performed for women seeking UI care.
• To ensure appropriate treatment levels were offered based on PFIQ-7 scores.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement project utilizing the plan-do-study-act cycle.
• Implementation of the PFIQ-7 for pre- and posttreatment assessment of UI in female veterans.
• Retrospective chart review of 20 female veterans undergoing Kegel exercises or pelvic floor rehabilitation (PFR).

Main Results:

• Participants undergoing PFR showed a decrease in mean PFIQ-7 scores from 71.77 to 43.99, indicating improved QoL.
• Participants undergoing Kegel exercises showed a decrease in mean PFIQ-7 scores from 71.72 to 60.71.
• Lower post-treatment PFIQ-7 scores correlated with a positive treatment effect and enhanced QoL.

Conclusions:

• Integrating the PFIQ-7 facilitated individualized care plans for female veterans with UI.
• The QoL assessment identified patients requiring escalation to more advanced treatment levels.
• Routine use of QoL tools can optimize management of UI in female veterans.