The effects of pelvic floor exercises performed at home on patient care outcomes and caregivers burden according to the health belief model

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of pelvic floor exercises performed at home on patient care outcomes and caregivers burden according to the Health Belief Model. Method: In the study, a quasi-experimental design with pre-post test control group was used. The study was completed with 20 patients in the experimental group and 18 patients in the control group. The data were collected by socio-demographic characteristics, Incontinence Quality of Life Scale, International Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form, Broome Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Self-efficacy Scale, Revized Standardized Mini-Mental Test, pads test and Burden Interview. The data were analyzed by chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon signed rank test and multiple regression. Results:, A statistically significant difference was found between the score averages of the experimental and control groups on both number of urinary incontinence and pads test, and quality of life scores after home nursing interventions (p <.05), while no statistically significant difference was found in the mean of the Burden Interiew (p> .05). It was also found that the self-efficacy of the pelvic floor exercises was increased in the experimental group (p <.05). In addition, it was determined that the intervention had 55.20% a change in the level of quality of life of the patients, the ICIQ-SF total score was 54.20% of the increase in the quality of life level. In terms of all variables, the intervention ICIQ-SF total score, caregiver burden scale, weekly number of urinary incontinence and pad test explained 70.40% change in the quality of life. Conclusion: In the results of this study, we suggest that pelvic floor muscle exercises at home based on the Health Belief Model should be performed and periodically monitored in the management of post-stroke urinary incontinence.