Association of Urinary Incontinence Awareness and Bladder Habits with Quality of Life Among Health Care Professionals...

This study was aimed at evaluating the association between urinary incontinence awareness, bladder habits, and quality of life among health care professionals working in high-risk clinical units.

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 520 health care professionals working in the emergency departments, intensive care units, and operating rooms of two state hospitals. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the Urinary Incontinence Awareness and Attitude Scale, the Urogenital Distress Inventory, and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey Quality of Life Scale. Data were analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions version 27.0 and Statistical Analysis System version 9.4. Descriptive statistics, t tests, variance analyses, Fisher's exact test, Pearson's correlation analyses, and ANCOVA analyses were performed.

Of the participants, 55.6% were women and 72.5% were nurses. The prevalence of was 27.3% among women and 21.6% among men, with no statistically significant difference between the groups. Educational level, profession, presence of , knowledge of pelvic floor muscle exercises, and bladder habits were significantly associated with both the physical and the mental components of quality of life (p < 0.05).

The findings suggest that -related factors and bladder habits might be associated with the quality of life of health care professionals working in high-risk units. Interventions aimed at promoting healthy bladder habits, increasing awareness of pelvic floor muscle exercises, and preventing or managing may have the potential to support physical and mental well-being in this population, although this should be confirmed by longitudinal and intervention studies.