Explaining factors affecting help-seeking behaviors in women with urinary incontinence: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is widely accepted to be among the most important issues in the global health system. However, only a limited number of women are referred for treatment because different factors complicate help-seeking behaviors. The aim of this study was to explain the factors affecting help-seeking behaviors in women suffering from urinary incontinence. METHODS: This study was a qualitative study using the conventional content analysis approach. The study was conducted from December 2018 and August 2019 in Tehran, Iran. The participants were 34 women with urinary incontinence selected using a purposive sampling method. The content analysis approach was based on the Graneheim and Lundman method, and qualitative data management software was used for analysis. RESULTS: Data analysis illustrates two themes; “ facilitator “ and “ inhibitor “; the categories “not perceiving disease”, “shame”, “ negative support of important others”, and “non-optimal health care system” were among the inhibitors and the categories “ reduced quality of life “ and “ positive support of important others” were found to be facilitators of help-seeking behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study highlight the need for understanding the underlying facilitators and inhibitors of help-seeking behaviors in women with urinary incontinence. We suggest that healthcare providers consider an open dialogue with patients and consider their subjective beliefs and life context during routine visits to facilitate early diagnosis of the disease and ultimately lead to an improvement in the woman’s quality of life.