Abstract

Objective: This study was planned to assess the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of healthcare professionals in relation to applying and teaching pelvic floor muscle exercises.

Methods: The study conducted as a descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out at five centers, being four public hospitals and one private hospital. The sample of the study consisted of 304 healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses and midwives who volunteered to participate in the study. Data were collected by using the face-to-face interview method with the questionnaire form prepared by the researchers in accordance with the literature. The data obtained were evaluated by using SPSS 20.0 package program on the computer. Number, percentage, arithmetic mean, chi-square significance test were used in the evaluation of the data.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 31.86 ±7.61 years (min;17-max;61), and 23% (n=70) of the participants were doctors, 50% (n=155) were nurses and 26% (n=79) were midwives. It was determined that 56.6% of the healthcare professionals who participated in the study had information about PFME completely and they obtained information from the training at school at the highest rate (68.1%). When the groups were compared, it was found out that the rate of those who had information about pelvic floor muscle exercises in the nurse group was significantly lower when compared to the other two groups (x2=15.824, p=0.000). Almost all of the participants stated that it was necessary to provide education on pelvic floor muscle exercises to all females starting from the adolescence period, and 61.9% expressed that they applied pelvic floor muscle exercises at least once in their lives.

Conclusion: In conclusion, it was determined that the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of healthcare professionals in relation to pelvic floor muscle exercises were not at the desired level and it is considered that it must be improved.