Evaluation of the Knowledge and Awareness Levels of Health Professionals about Pelvic Floor

Abstract

Objectives: To investigation knowledge and awareness of health professionals about pelvic floor. Materials and Methods: A total of 613 healthcare professionals, 96 physicians, 225 physiotherapists, 186 nurses and 106 midwives, were included in the study. Pelvic floor knowledge and awareness with a questionnaire prepared by the researchers were collected via both face-to-face and the online platform. Results: The percentage of correct responders to structures containing the pelvic floor was highest in physicians (78.1%) and physiotherapists (77.8%). While the most well-known functions of the pelvic floor muscles in all groups are to provide urinary continence and to support the pelvic organs; its least known functions were that it was important in lumbopelvic stability and was associated with the respiratory system. The rate of healthcare professionals who taught pelvic floor muscle exercises to patients was highest in physiotherapists (68.9%) and midwives (62.3%). While the most well-known benefit of pelvic floor muscle training in all groups is that it is important in providing urinary/anal continence; its least known benefit was that it was important in low back pain. Conclusion: It was seen that the knowledge and awareness levels of health professionals about the structures forming the pelvic floor, their location in the body, the function of the pelvic floor muscles and pelvic floor muscle exercises were not enough. However, physiotherapists were found to have more information about the pelvic floor than other groups. It is necessary to increase trainings on pelvic floor and pelvic floor exercises in health professionals working in this field.

Keywords

• Pelvic Floor
• Pelvic Floor Disorders
• Knowledge
• Awareness
• Medical Staff

Sağlık Profesyonellerinin Pelvik Taban Hakkında Bilgi ve Farkındalık Düzeylerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Sağlık profesyonellerinin pelvik taban hakkındaki bilgi ve farkındalığının incelenmesiydi. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya 96 hekim, 225 fizyoterapist, 186 hemşire ve 106 ebe olmak üzere toplam 613 sağlık profesyoneli dahil edildi. Pelvik taban bilgi ve farkındalığı araştırmacılar tarafından hazırlanan bir anket ile hem yüz yüze görüşme ile hem de çevrimiçi platform üzerinden toplandı. Bulgular: Pelvik tabanı içeren yapılara doğru yanıt verenlerin yüzdesi hekimlerde (%78.1) ve fizyoterapistlerde (%77.8) en yüksekti. Pelvik taban kaslarının bütün meslek gruplarında en iyi bilinen fonksiyonları üriner kontinansı sağlamak ve pelvik organlara destek olmak iken; en az bilinen fonksiyonları lumbopelvik stabilitede önemli olduğu ve solunum sistemi ile ilişkili olduğu idi. Hastalara pelvik taban kas egzersizi öğreten sağlık profesyoneli oranı fizyoterapist (%68.9) ve ebelerde (%62.3) en yüksekti. Bütün meslek gruplarında pelvik taban kas eğitiminin en çok bilinen faydası üriner/anal kontinansın sağlanmasında önemli olduğu iken; en az bilinen faydası bel ağrısında önemli olduğu idi. Sonuç: Sağlık profesyonellerinin, pelvik tabanı oluşturan yapıları, vücuttaki yeri, pelvik taban kaslarının fonksiyonu ve pelvik taban kas egzersizleri ile ilgili bilgi ve farkındalık düzeylerin de yeterli düzeyde olmadığı görüldü. Ayrıca, fizyoterapistlerin diğer meslek gruplarına göre pelvik taban ile ilgili daha fazla bilgiye sahip olduğu bulundu. Bu alanda çalışan sağlık profesyonellerinde pelvik taban ve pelvik taban egzersizleri konusundaki eğitimlerinin artırılması gerekmektedir.

Keywords

• Pelvik Taban
• Pelvik Taban Kusurları
• Bilgi
• Farkındalık
• Sağlık Çalışanları

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