The effect of surgical and medical treatment applied to women with stress urinary incontinence on their physical activity levels quality of life depression status and collective participation

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of surgical and medical treatment applied to women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), on physical activity levels, quality of life, depression status and collective participation to compare their superiority and differences based on the relevant literature. Thirty-two female patients, 18 years old and over, with SUI were included. Sixteen of the patients were identified as medical treatment group (MTG), sixteen as surgical treatment group (STG). The patients assessed through International Consultation on İncontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF), Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (I-QOL), The World Health Organization Quality of Life-Short Version (WHOQOL-BREF), International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Beck Depression İnventory (BDI) and Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) before and after 8 weeks of treatment. The mean age in MTG was 54,31±11,482 and 48,38±10,006 in STG. The Body Mass Index (BMI) of MTG and STG was 26,56±2,25 and 27,56±2,79. There was no significant difference in term of BMI and age averages. There were a statistically significant improvement in levels of urinary incontinence, depression status, collective participation and general and disease-specific quality of life questionnaire in both groups (p<0.05). STG had significant improvement in BDI (p=0,003), social participation in work activity (p=0,020), home activity (p=0,025), total score (p=0,018) and psycho-social subscale of WHOQOL-BREF (p=0-045), psychological subscale of I-QOL (p=0,049) after MTG. There was no significant change in the level of physical activity. Both treatments are effective and available methods to reduce the incontinence severity and depression effects, prevent social isolation and improve the quality of life. The awareness of patients and physicians about SUI should be increased. There is a need for extensive research in larger patient groups on treatment methods and efficacy levels.