Effects of unsupervised behavioral and pelvic floor muscle training programs on nocturia, urinary urgency, and urinary frequency in postmenopausal women: Secondary analysis of a randomized, two-arm, parallel design, superiority trial (TULIP study). (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Chen; Newman, Diane; Schwartz, Todd A.; Zou, Baiming; Miller, Janis; Palmer, Mary H.
• Is Part Of: Maturitas. Volume 146(2021)
• Page Start: 42
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Lower urinary tract symptoms -- Menopause -- Prevention medicine -- Parallel design superiority trial -- Technology; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Middle Aged -- Periodicals; Climatère -- Périodiques; Ménopause -- Périodiques; Climacterium; Climacteric; Menopause; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 612.66
• DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2021.01.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-5122

Abstract

Highlights: The 2-hrClass format unsupervised behavioral and pelvic floor muscle training program improved urinary outcomes of women. The 20-minVideo format unsupervised behavioral and pelvic floor muscle training program improved urinary outcomes of women. The moderating effects of the intervention delivery formats could not be determined. Abstract: Objective: To determine and compare the effects of an unsupervised behavioral and pelvic floor muscle training (B-PFMT) program delivered in two formats on nocturia, urinary urgency, and urinary frequency in postmenopausal women. Study design: A secondary analysis used data collected from women enrolled in the TULIP study. Women aged 55 years or more with no urinary incontinence were provided the B-PFMT program. Each woman was randomly assigned to a face-to-face class that took about 2 h (2-hrClass) or to a DVD showing essentially the same information as a 20-minute video (20-minVideo). All women were instructed to independently continue the program following their education session. Three urinary outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3, 12, and 24 months. Main outcome measures: Nocturia and urinary urgency were examined with one item each from the questionnaire-based voiding diary, and urinary frequency was assessed with patients' self-documenting 3-day bladder diary. Results: Women in the 2-hrClass group experienced significantly fewer nocturia episodes and longer average inter-void interval at each follow-up and fewer urinary urgency episodes at 12 months. Women in the 20-minVideo group experienced significantly fewer episodes of nocturia and urinary urgency and longer average inter-void interval at each follow-up time point. No significant between-group differences were found for any outcome, except for nocturia at 24 months, when effectiveness favored women in the 20-minVideo group. Conclusions: Unsupervised B-PFMT programs are effective for improving postmenopausal women's urinary outcomes regardless of the format. The optimal format to deliver B-PFMT programs in terms of effectiveness should be explored in future studies.