Improvement in a Woman’s Quality of Life After a Surgical Stress Urinary Procedure Chambers S, English S, McGarr R. Urology Dept Christchurch Hospital Christchurch Hospital

Aim Aim To determine if quality of life (QOL) is improved by an operation for stress urinary incontinence To determine if quality of life (QOL) is improved by an operation for stress urinary incontinence Can we predict before surgery which women will do well and which may not? Can we predict before surgery which women will do well and which may not?

Method Prospective audit Prospective audit Preadmission clinic Preadmission clinic QOL Questionnaire (I-QOL) QOL Questionnaire (I-QOL) 6 months following surgery 6 months following surgery

QOL Questionnaire “My incontinence is always on my mind.” “I worry about coughing or sneezing because of my urinary problems or incontinence.” 5 options to consider 1 extremely 1 extremely 2 quite a bit 2 quite a bit 3 moderately 3 moderately 4 a little bit 4 a little bit 5 not at all 5 not at all

Results to Sept 1 st, patients 64 patients 35 patients completed pre and post I-QOL 35 patients completed pre and post I-QOL I-QOL scores increased from a mean of 41 to a mean of 75 (p<0.0001) I-QOL scores increased from a mean of 41 to a mean of 75 (p<0.0001)

Results Pre-op score Mean Post-op score Mean Lowest 1/3 (n = 14)1466 Middle 1/3 (n = 14)4981 Highest 1/3 (n = 7)7884 Whole group (n = 35)4175

Subscale Results Sub groups (p<0.0001) Pre-op score Mean Post-op score Mean Embarrassment (n = 35) 3172 Avoidance & limiting behaviour (n = 35) 4174 Psychosocial (n = 35) 4379

Worsened QOL Scores Pre opPost op

Conclusion The audit confirms that QOL is improved following a surgical repair for stress urinary incontinence The audit confirms that QOL is improved following a surgical repair for stress urinary incontinence Those women with a poor pre operative QOL score are more likely to experience the most significant improvement Those women with a poor pre operative QOL score are more likely to experience the most significant improvement

References Fultz NH, Burgio K, Diokno AC, Kinchen KS, Obenchain R, Bump RC. Burden of stress urinary incontinence for community dwelling- women. AM J Obstet Gynecol. 2003;189: Fultz NH, Burgio K, Diokno AC, Kinchen KS, Obenchain R, Bump RC. Burden of stress urinary incontinence for community dwelling- women. AM J Obstet Gynecol. 2003;189: Donovan J, Naughton M, Gotoh M, et al. Symptom and Quality of Life Assessment 1999, pp in “Incontinence” Ed. Abrams P, Khoury S, and Wein A. 1 st International Consultation on Incontinence Donovan J, Naughton M, Gotoh M, et al. Symptom and Quality of Life Assessment 1999, pp in “Incontinence” Ed. Abrams P, Khoury S, and Wein A. 1 st International Consultation on Incontinence 1998.