The weakness of the pelvic floor muscle causes mobility of
the bladder neck and the urethra, thus leading to urethral
sphincter incompetence. Hence, intra-abdominal pressure
increases may lead to urine leakage. However, SUI in
pregnant women can be cured or relieved by PFME, which
can improve pelvic floor muscle strength and improve the
efficacy of the sphincteric function of the urethra (Fantl et al.
1996, Newman 2001). This study found that the pregnant
women with SUI who participated in 6-week PFME
programme had a lower mean SUI frequency, amount of
urine leakage and mean scores of perceived SUI severity
than the pregnant women who received routine nursing care
only.
Nurses should assess the SUI symptoms in pregnant women
and provide knowledge about SUI and PFME for pregnant
women by verbal instruction combined with a handbook.
Also, nurses can apply the PFME Programme to nursing
education for pregnant women to reduce SUI severity. As an
essential part of nursing care, pregnant women with SUI
should be encouraged to perform PFME.
The present study showed that PFME effectively alleviated
SUI symptoms among incontinent pregnant women. Therefore,
to cover continent pregnant women, further research
may also be conducted to assess the effects of the
programme in the prevention of SUI among pregnant
women in early pregnancy and extending to the postpartum
period. The Health Promotion Model (HPM) and pathophysiological
theories that are used to guide research study
to encourage continent pregnant women continuously perform
PFME to improve health, enhance functional ability
and lead to a better quality of life. Because HPM has the
primary focus in health care, when health promotion fails to
prevent problems, then care in illness becomes the next
priority.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Nursing Council of
Thailand for the research grant. Also thanks to Nittaya
Sinsuksai (RN, PhD) and Dittakan Boriboonhirunsarn (MD,
MPH, PhD) for their review of and assistance with the
manuscript in the following aspects, study design, data
analysis, statistical expertise and great supervision.