Preliminary results of the inventory of the psychological burden of women with pelvic floor complaints

The literature describes various types of distress in women with pelvic floor complaints. The lack of a comprehensive overview of women’s psychological burden with pelvic floor complaints, and a conceptual model reflecting their specific types of distress thus far compromised our ability to inventory and grasp the psychological impact on women. Two mixed-method studies were performed. One study provided more insight into different types of restrictions and distress in pregnant, parous, and nulliparous women with pelvic floor complaints in their daily, social and sexual functioning, and their intimate relationships. Additional comparisons were made between women who did and did not receive pelvic physical therapy. The other study was carried out to construct a conceptual model of women’s psychological burden with pelvic floor complaints from both women’s and health care providers’ perspectives, and to obtain a list of statements to help to inventory women’s psychological burden. Forty-eight women were interviewed, and data were analyzed in NVivo and Leximancer for comparative purposes. Using the Group Concept Mapping research methodology, 125 statements provided input for a conceptual model and a 33-item statement list that can be used to inventory women’s psychological burden. The seven types of distress that emerged in the model were loss of control, feeling insecure, feeling wronged, feeling helpless, feeling angry, feeling disappointed, and sexual distress. To investigate the predictive value of women’s psychological burden with pelvic floor complaints about seeking help from a pelvic physical therapist, pregnant, parous, and nulliparous women with and without pelvic floor complaints were recruited to participate in an online survey. Women were asked to judge the 33 statements on a 7-point Likert scale for applicability. Between-group comparisons were made between women with and without pelvic floor complaints, and women who did and did not receive pelvic physical therapy. In this current follow-up research, data is being collected, and preliminary results will be presented in this poster