A Community Intervention Study of Female Pelvic Floor Condition and Knowledge of Pelvic Floor Exercises

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aims of the study were to attempt to answer the following questions; what proportion of women know how to and are able to exercise their pelvic floor and for those who cannot can they be trained and motivated to do so. This was a nested design comprising a prospective cohort study together with a controlled trial intervention after baseline assessment in the cohort study for a defined at-risk group.

Official Title
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A Community Intervention Study of Female Pelvic Floor Condition and Knowledge of Pelvic Floor Exercises

Conditions
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Behavioural

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Able to give consent Aged above 18 years modified Oxford score, MOS, ≤ 2 Exclusion Criteria: Unable to give consent -

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: nurse specialist<br>Women were screened for a weak pelvic floor (modified Oxford score, MOS, ≤ 2) before being invited into the trial. The women were seen monthly after their initial assessment and training and were followed-up for their final assessment at 3 months. | Behavioral: Training<br>* Women in both the practice nurse and specialist nurse groups were given supervised pelvic floor exercise training. After the initial training they were given a daily exercise regimen and seen at monthly intervals for three months. The practice nurses had attended a study day on supervising Pelvic Floor Muscle Training(PFMT)followed by practice sessions with patients overseen by the nurse specialist.<br>* Other names: Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT);|
| Experimental: practice nurse<br>Women were screened for a weak pelvic floor (modified Oxford score, MOS, ≤ 2) before being invited into the trial. The women were seen monthly after their initial assessment and training and were followed-up for their final assessment at 3 months. | Behavioral: Training<br>* Women in both the practice nurse and specialist nurse groups were given supervised pelvic floor exercise training. After the initial training they were given a daily exercise regimen and seen at monthly intervals for three months. The practice nurses had attended a study day on supervising Pelvic Floor Muscle Training(PFMT)followed by practice sessions with patients overseen by the nurse specialist.<br>* Other names: Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT);|
| No Intervention: Control<br>Women were screened for a weak pelvic floor (modified Oxford score, MOS, ≤ 2) before being invited into the trial. The women were seen monthly after their initial assessment (but no training given) and were followed-up for their final assessment at 3 months. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| maximal vaginal squeeze pressure (perineometry). |  | monthly for 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| endurance of contraction (perineometry)and digital vaginal palpation (MOS). |  | monthly for 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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female pelvic floor condition, pelvic floor training, supervised pelvic floor training, practice nurse, nurse specialist