Primary care providers’ knowledge about the therapeutic management of refractory pelvic floor dysfunctions in Flanders, Belgium: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

Pelvic floor dysfunctions (PFD) are prevalent conditions in primary care practice. Basic knowledge of second-line therapies among primary care providers (PCPs) is indispensable to well-inform refractory patients and improve their access to specialized care.

Objectives

Getting insight into the extent of knowledge about second-line therapies for refractory PFD among PCPs in Flanders, Belgium.

Methods

From January to March 2019 Flemish PCPs participated in the OptiLUTS trial – Part A (EC/2018/0244), by the completion of a 22-item online Dutch questionnaire. Prevalence of PCPs having awareness about sacral neuromodulation (SNM), intradetrusor botulinum toxin injections (BTX) and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) was explored. Descriptive statistics, univariate analyses, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

Sixty PCPs, 55% GPs, 45% GP trainees, median age 29 years, participated. Respectively, 90, 73 and 5% had ever heard about BTX, SNM and PTNS. The profession was an independent predictive factor for never having heard of SNM therapy, GPs being more likely to have a lack of knowledge than trainees (OR = 29, 95%CI [1.9–442.5]). Ninety-three percent want to learn more about these therapies.

Conclusion

There is a margin for improvement in the knowledge of PCPs regarding therapies for refractory PFD. Awareness among PCPs should be increased for the optimization of patient care.

Keywords:

• Faecal incontinence
• pelvic floor
• primary health care
• quality improvement
• urinary incontinence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The present work was financially supported by Astellas Pharma Europe and the OptiLUTS trial is funded by the OptiLUTS Chair, handed out by Medtronic (Reference number: A 1357636)