Stigma And Its Correlation With Quality Of Life In Community Women With Urinary Incontinence

Objectives:Describe the stigma in women with urinary incontinence and explore the correlation between patient’s stigma and quality of life(QOL).Methods:Cross-sectional survey was employed.The convenient sample of506women in three communities of Jinan city were studied. Revised social impact scale(SIS), incontinence QOL instrument were used to investigate the stigma and QOL in women with urinary incontinence. SPSS13.0was used for statistical analysis, and data were analyzed by descriptive statistic and reliability analysis.Results:1. The mean score of stigma in women with urinary incontinence was39.62±8.10, the score index of social isolation, social rejection and internalized shame were58%,45%,70%respectively.2.In a multiple stepwise regression analysis, age, severity of UI and type of UI were included in the regression equation.3.The mean score of QOL in women with urinary incontinence was79.52+16.64, the score index of avoidance and limiting behavior, psychosocial impact and social embarrassment were70%,78%,66%respectively.4.In a multiple stepwise regression analysis, education, type of UI, severity of UI and stigma were included in the regression equation.5.Stigma was negatively correlated with QOL in women ith urinary incontinence, the correlation coefficient of stigma’s three domains and QOL was between-0.110～0.605, while the social rejection was positive with avoidance and limiting behavior. Conclusions:1. Internalized shame plays an important part in the stigma of patients.2. In a multiple stepwise regression analysis, those patients who were older, or mild incontinence, or single type of urinary incontinence had weaker stigma.3. From the influence of urinary incontinence to the quality of life, the social embarrassment was higher than the other two dimensions.4. Those patients who had lower education level,or mix UI, or mild incontinence, or higher stigma had lower quality of life.5. Stigma was negatively correlated with QOL in women with urinary incontinence, those with a lower stigma had better QOL.