The frequency of overactive bladder in nurses working in Turgut Özal Medical Center and its impact on quality of life

The Incidence Of Overactive Bladder In Nurses Working In Turgut Özal Medical Center And Its Effect On Quality Of Life Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) among female nurses working at Turgut Özal Medical Center, to examine associated sociodemographic and clinical factors, and to evaluate the impact of OAB on quality of life. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 595 female nurses who met the inclusion criteria out of a total population of 850. Data were collected using the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire-8 (OAB-V8) and the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Spearman rho correlation analysis. Results: OAB was detected in 58.8% (n=350) of the nurses. Monthly income level was significantly associated with OAB; the OAB rate was markedly higher among nurses with low income (66.8%) compared to those with high income (48.0%) (p=0.007). Nurses with irregular menstrual cycles had a significantly higher OAB rate (70.4%) compared to those with regular cycles (55.2%) (p=0.008). Positive significant correlations were found between OAB-V8 scores and both age (r=0.150, p<0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (r=0.092, p=0.025). Significant positive correlations were identified between OAB-V8 scores and all subscales of the KHQ; the strongest associations were observed in the domains of emotions (r=0.580), physical limitations (r=0.572), sleep/energy (r=0.559), role limitations (r=0.540), and social limitations (r=0.529) (p<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of OAB among nurses was found to be high, with low income level and menstrual irregularity being significantly associated factors. OAB was found to adversely affect nurses' physical, emotional, and social quality of life. Early identification of risk factors and implementation of preventive interventions are necessary to improve bladder health among nurses.