Abstracts

Introduction

This study focuses on adherence to physical therapy and professional instructions because many therapeutic results are compromised due to low adherence and poor active participation to restore the desired patient function^¹1. Alewijnse D, Mesters I, Metsemakers JFM, Borne BVD. Strategies to enhance adherence and reduce drop out in conservative treatment. In: Bo K, Berghmans B, Morkved S, Kampen M, editors. Evidence-based Physical Therapy for the Pelvic Floor. London: Elsevier; 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-10146-5.50013-7
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-101... . Similarly, adherence to exercise at home after physical therapy is essential to maintain results²2. Krüger AP, Luz SCT, Virtuoso JF. Home exercises for pelvic floor in continent women one year after physical therapy treatment for urinary incontinence: an observational study. Rev Bras Fisioter. 2011;15(5):351-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552011005000006
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552011... .

According to Bandura³3. Bandura A. A evolução da teoria social cognitiva. In: Bandura A, Azzi RG, Polydoro S. Teoria Social Cognitiva: Conceitos Básicos. Porto Alegre: Artmed; 2008., self-efficacy beliefs are required for people to actively care for their own health. Self-efficacy is defined as "people's beliefs in their capability to exercise some measure of control over their own functioning and over environmental events"³3. Bandura A. A evolução da teoria social cognitiva. In: Bandura A, Azzi RG, Polydoro S. Teoria Social Cognitiva: Conceitos Básicos. Porto Alegre: Artmed; 2008.. Thus, self-efficacy expectations eventually affect behavior. The environmental effects created by such behaviors also change self-efficacy beliefs³3. Bandura A. A evolução da teoria social cognitiva. In: Bandura A, Azzi RG, Polydoro S. Teoria Social Cognitiva: Conceitos Básicos. Porto Alegre: Artmed; 2008..

In the context of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), the exercises used to train the pelvic floor (PF) muscles are typically the first option in physical therapy. One systematic review indicated that physical therapy effectively reduces urinary symptoms in older women with urinary incontinence⁴4. Pereira VS, Escobar AC, Driusso P. Efeitos do tratamento fisioterapêutico em mulheres idosas com incontinência urinária: uma revisão sistemática review. Rev Bras Fisioter. 2012;16(6):463-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552012005000050.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552012... . In addition, previous studies have suggested that a relationship exists between high self-efficacy and positive adherence rates to these treatments for urinary ^{incontinence5} 5. Alewijnse D, Mesters I, Metsemakers J, Adriaans J, van den Borne B. Predictors of intention to adhere to physiotherapy among women with urinary incontinence. Health Educ Res. 2001;16(2):173-86. PMid:11345660. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/16.2.173
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/16.2.173...

6. Alewijnse D, Metsemakers JFM, Mesters IEPE, van den Borne B. Effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercise therapy supplemented with a health education program to promote long-term adherence among women with urinary incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2003;22(4):284-95. PMid:12808702. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nau.10122
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nau.10122...

7. Broome BAS. Development and testing of a scale to measure self-efficacy for pelvic muscle exercises in women with urinary incontinence. Urol Nurs.1999;19(4):258-268. PMid:10889770.

8. Sampselle CM, Messer KL, Seng JS, Raghunathan TE, Hines SH, Diokno AC. Learning outcomes of a group behavioral modification program to prevent urinary incontinence. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2005;16(6):441-6. PMid:16237512. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00192-005-1284-7
16237512...

9. Messer KL, Hines SH, Raghunathan TE, Seng JS, Diokno AC, Sampselle CM. Self-efficacy as a predictor to PFMT adherence in a prevention of urinary incontinence clinical trial. Health Educ Behav. 2007;34(6):942-52. PMid:17456856. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1090198106295399
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10901981062953... ^{- 10}10. Chen S-Y, Tzeng Y-L. Path analysis for adherence to pelvic floor muscle exercise among women with urinary incontinence. J Nurs Res. 2009;17(2):83-92. PMid:19516102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JNR.0b013e3181a53e7e
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JNR.0b013e3181... .

Existing scales to evaluate self-efficacy with regard to practicing PF exercises (PFEs) have been developed and validated in other countries (e.g., the US⁷7. Broome BAS. Development and testing of a scale to measure self-efficacy for pelvic muscle exercises in women with urinary incontinence. Urol Nurs.1999;19(4):258-268. PMid:10889770., Taiwan¹¹11. Chen S-Y. The development and testing of the pelvic floor muscle exercise self-efficacy scale. J Nurs Res. 2004;12(4):257-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.JNR.0000387510.52243.c8
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.JNR.0000387... , Canada¹²12. Tannenbaum C, Brouillette J, Korner-Bitensky N, Dumoulin C, Corcos J, Tu LM, et al. Creation and testing of the Geriatric Self-Efficacy Index for Urinary Incontinence. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008;56(3):542-7. PMid:18179504. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01572.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.20... , and Turkey¹³13. Zengin N, Pinar R. Reliability and validity of the continence self-efficacy scale in Turkish women with urinary incontinence. Nurs Health Sci. 2012;14(3):277-84. PMid:22632069. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2012.00692.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.20... ); however, none have been validated in Brazil. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Self-Efficacy Scale for Practicing PFEs (SESPPFE).

Method

The present study employed a cross-sectional validation design.

Participants

This study consisted of 177 women, including 81 women from the general population (with or without PFD symptoms) and 96 postpartum women (54.8% of whom complained of urinary leakage). The women from the general population were evaluated at the Network of Women Against Cancer (Rede Feminina de Combate ao Câncer) in Florianópolis, SC, Brazil, between September 2011 and March 2012. These women underwent a functional assessment of the PF muscles via a digital vaginal exam and were then instructed on how to perform daily PFEs that were meant to be preventive or curative. The postpartum (puerperium) women were at the Maternity Carmela Dutra, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil and received instructions concerning practicing the exercises in the maternity ward; however, only verbal instructions were provided, and the exercises were visually inspected.

This study excluded women who did not show signs of visible or palpable PF muscle contractions during a physical examination, those who were functionally illiterate, or those who refused to participate in the study.

The ethics committee of the Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil (175/2011) and the Maternity Carmela Dutra (CAE: 0010.0.233.269-11), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil evaluated and approved this project. Patients provided consent by signing the free and informed consent form established by the above committees.

Research instrument: Scale development

The SESPPFE (^{Appendix 1} Appendix 1 Self-Efficacy Scale for Practicing PFEs (SESPPFE). ) was developed specifically for this study based on the instructions provided by Bandura¹⁴14. Bandura A. Guide to the construction of self-efficacy scales. In: Pajares F, Urdan T, editors. Self-efficacy beliefs of adolescents. Greenwich: IAP - Information Age Publishing. 2006, v. 5, p. 307-337.. Other instruments in this field have been validated in other countries⁷7. Broome BAS. Development and testing of a scale to measure self-efficacy for pelvic muscle exercises in women with urinary incontinence. Urol Nurs.1999;19(4):258-268. PMid:10889770. ^{, 15}15. Mâsse LC, Heesch KC, Eason KE, Wilson M. Evaluating the properties of a stage-specific self-efficacy scale for physical activity using classical test theory, confirmatory factor analysis and item response modeling. Health Educ Res. 2006;21(Suppl 1):i33-46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/cyl106
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/cyl106... . The barriers previously described for practicing unsupervised PFEs were also considered. Forgetfulness, a lack of time, the uncertainty of performing the exercises correctly, the perception that the exercises do not help, and the idea that PFEs were only important during pregnancy and postpartum¹⁶16. Chiarelli P, Murphy B, Cockburn J. Acceptability of a urinary continence promotion programme to women in postpartum. BJOG. 2003; 110(2):188-96. PMid:12618164. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-0528.2003.02205.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-0528.20... were the major reasons that women provided to explain their low treatment adherence, their lack of interest or discipline with regard to performing the exercises, and their difficulties in integrating the exercises into their daily activities⁵5. Alewijnse D, Mesters I, Metsemakers J, Adriaans J, van den Borne B. Predictors of intention to adhere to physiotherapy among women with urinary incontinence. Health Educ Res. 2001;16(2):173-86. PMid:11345660. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/16.2.173
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/16.2.173... ^{, 16}16. Chiarelli P, Murphy B, Cockburn J. Acceptability of a urinary continence promotion programme to women in postpartum. BJOG. 2003; 110(2):188-96. PMid:12618164. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-0528.2003.02205.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-0528.20... ^{- 17}17. Borello-france D, Burgio KL, Goode PS, Markland AD, Kenton K, Balasubramanyam A, et al. Adherence to behavioral interventions for urge incontinence when combined with drug therapy: adherence rates, barriers, and predictors. PhysTher. 2010;90(10):1493-506. PMid:20671098. http://dx.doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20080387
http://dx.doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20080387... .

The majority of scales tested in other countries were directed at women with PFD⁷7. Broome BAS. Development and testing of a scale to measure self-efficacy for pelvic muscle exercises in women with urinary incontinence. Urol Nurs.1999;19(4):258-268. PMid:10889770. ^{, 11}11. Chen S-Y. The development and testing of the pelvic floor muscle exercise self-efficacy scale. J Nurs Res. 2004;12(4):257-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.JNR.0000387510.52243.c8
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.JNR.0000387...

12. Tannenbaum C, Brouillette J, Korner-Bitensky N, Dumoulin C, Corcos J, Tu LM, et al. Creation and testing of the Geriatric Self-Efficacy Index for Urinary Incontinence. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008;56(3):542-7. PMid:18179504. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01572.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.20... ^{- 13}13. Zengin N, Pinar R. Reliability and validity of the continence self-efficacy scale in Turkish women with urinary incontinence. Nurs Health Sci. 2012;14(3):277-84. PMid:22632069. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2012.00692.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.20... . Thus, a new scale was developed rather than validating a scale that was previously described in the literature because the goals of the current study were to develop a scale that could be applied to women with or without incontinence and to identify their adherence to PFEs.

According to Bandura¹⁴14. Bandura A. Guide to the construction of self-efficacy scales. In: Pajares F, Urdan T, editors. Self-efficacy beliefs of adolescents. Greenwich: IAP - Information Age Publishing. 2006, v. 5, p. 307-337., self-efficacy is composed of two dimensions: expected performance and expected results. The first refers to the judgments that one makes regarding an individual's behavior. The second addresses judgments regarding the possible outcomes of certain behaviors, both positive and negative¹⁸18. Bandura A. Social Foundantions of Thought & Action - A Social Cognitive Theory. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall; 1986..

From this theoretical assumption, a pool of 16 items was prepared. The participants responded to these items on a scale ranging from 0 to 100. Twelve items assessed expected performance, and four evaluated the expected results. The points allocated for each item were summed to calculate the self-efficacy score for practicing PFEs.

Content Analysis

Four reviewers who are experts in female PFD or self-efficacy evaluated the scale. These reviewers validated the content of the instrument and offered suggestions to improve the phrasing of the items. Two reviewers requested that the following item be included: "How confident do you feel that you contracted PF to prevent leakage before coughing, sneezing, or strongly laughing." Therefore, the final scale included 17 items.

Predictive ability

To verify the scale's predictive ability, phone interviews were conducted with 89 women (48 from the general population and 41 postpartum women). This sample only includes the women who were successfully contacted via telephone approximately 3 months after the intervention. These women were asked whether they had performed PFEs in recent weeks.

Internal consistency and dimensionality

To evaluate specific psychometric qualities of the instrument, internal consistency and dimensionality analyses of the construct were performed using an exploratory factor analysis.

Reliability

Test-retest reliability was not assessed because self-efficacy changes with domain experience¹⁹19. Pajares F, Olaz F. Teoria Social Cognitiva e Auto-eficácia: uma visão geral. In: Bandura A, Azzi RG, Polydoro S. Teoria Social Cognitiva: Conceitos Básicos. Porto Alegre: Artmed; 2008.. Thus, the understanding gained during PFEs should increase the self-efficacy beliefs of study participants. As an alternative to test-retest reliability, we performed the split-half technique in which the assessment is split in half and where one half is composed of the sum of the even items, and the other half is composed of the sum of the odd items.

Data analyses

The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency distributions, means, medians, and standard deviations). To analyze the predictive ability of the instrument, the Mann Whitney U test was used given the non-normal distribution of the data. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and the dimensionality of the construct was assessed using an exploratory factor analysis (i.e., principal component analysis, Varimax rotation). A significance threshold of p<0.05 was adopted. Spearman's correlation was performed to infer the reliability of the test and ascertain the strength of the relationship between the two test halves.

Results

Characterization of the participants

In general, the study participants were white, lived with their partners, had received a primary to secondary level of education, and multiparous (Table 1). The average age of the women was 35.6 years (SD=13.9); the average age of the women in the general population was 45.8 years (SD=13.7), and the average age of the postpartum women was 27 years (SD=6.3).

Internal consistency and dimensionality of the scale

An exploratory factor analysis was performed to extract the principal components using Varimax rotation (Table 2). This analysis generated three factors that accounted for 65.32% of the total variance. The first factor (expected performance regarding an action) consisted of eight items that accounted for 48.25% of the total variance. The second factor (expected performance regarding action preparation) consisted of five items that accounted for 10.25% of the total variance. Finally, the third factor (expected results) consisted of four items that accounted for 6.81% of the total variance. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the scale was α=0.923 (α=0.840, α=0.889, and α=0.862 for Factors 1, 2, and 3, respectively).

Predictive ability

Women who continued performing the exercises 3 months after the intervention had significantly higher self-efficacy scores than those who did not perform PFEs during the same period (U=352; p=0.013; Md^{adherent women}=1,430 and Md^{nonadherent women}=1,160). Only 16 women (18%) did not adhere to the exercises until the interview date; of these women, nine were from the general population, and seven were from the postpartum population.

The women from the general population had self-efficacy scores similar to those of the postpartum women (U=3740; p=0.663; Md^{women in general}=1,330, Md ^postpartum=1,370).

The two halves of the instrument were strongly correlated (rho=0.889, p<0.001), which denotes an acceptable reliability.

Discussion

According to Bandura¹⁴14. Bandura A. Guide to the construction of self-efficacy scales. In: Pajares F, Urdan T, editors. Self-efficacy beliefs of adolescents. Greenwich: IAP - Information Age Publishing. 2006, v. 5, p. 307-337., self-efficacy has two dimensions: expected performance and expected results. The three factors determined in the current analysis coincide with Bandura's¹⁴14. Bandura A. Guide to the construction of self-efficacy scales. In: Pajares F, Urdan T, editors. Self-efficacy beliefs of adolescents. Greenwich: IAP - Information Age Publishing. 2006, v. 5, p. 307-337. theoretical proposal. However, the scale in this study divided expected performance into two components: the action itself and its preparation. Zengin and Pinar¹³13. Zengin N, Pinar R. Reliability and validity of the continence self-efficacy scale in Turkish women with urinary incontinence. Nurs Health Sci. 2012;14(3):277-84. PMid:22632069. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2012.00692.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.20... translated and validated a Japanese scale in Turkey and found the same three factors.

However, Broome⁷7. Broome BAS. Development and testing of a scale to measure self-efficacy for pelvic muscle exercises in women with urinary incontinence. Urol Nurs.1999;19(4):258-268. PMid:10889770. found only two factors in the US, which matches Bandura's¹⁴ initial proposal. Chen¹¹11. Chen S-Y. The development and testing of the pelvic floor muscle exercise self-efficacy scale. J Nurs Res. 2004;12(4):257-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.JNR.0000387510.52243.c8
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.JNR.0000387... also found two factors in Taiwan, called belief in the performance and muscle benefits of PFEs and belief in performing the recommended PFEs despite barriers. This differentiation suggests that Brazilian women might make a greater distinction between an action and the preparation to act (i.e., between predisposition and the desire to act).

No international consensus exists concerning a particular self-efficacy assessment, which complicates the study of cultural differences with regard to PFE adherence.

The current instrument achieved an acceptable level of internal consistency. Our scale differs from similar instruments⁷7. Broome BAS. Development and testing of a scale to measure self-efficacy for pelvic muscle exercises in women with urinary incontinence. Urol Nurs.1999;19(4):258-268. PMid:10889770. ^{, 11}11. Chen S-Y. The development and testing of the pelvic floor muscle exercise self-efficacy scale. J Nurs Res. 2004;12(4):257-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.JNR.0000387510.52243.c8
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.JNR.0000387...

12. Tannenbaum C, Brouillette J, Korner-Bitensky N, Dumoulin C, Corcos J, Tu LM, et al. Creation and testing of the Geriatric Self-Efficacy Index for Urinary Incontinence. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008;56(3):542-7. PMid:18179504. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01572.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.20... ^{- 13}13. Zengin N, Pinar R. Reliability and validity of the continence self-efficacy scale in Turkish women with urinary incontinence. Nurs Health Sci. 2012;14(3):277-84. PMid:22632069. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2012.00692.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.20... because it was tested among a heterogeneous sample (women with or without urinary leakage and those in postpartum). Therefore, this instrument is also applicable for women who do not have PFD symptoms but for whom exercises are suggested as a preventive measure. This area of practice is new for physical therapists who are part of multidisciplinary teams focusing on prevention and health promotion.

Self-efficacy is used to decide which actions are possible to perform while anticipating positive or negative results. Establishing a basis for action is important⁹. The current instrument differentiated between women who did or did not adhere to PFEs; therefore, it has an adequate predictive ability because theory suggests that self-efficacy beliefs are an important predictor of adherence to health-related behaviors⁵5. Alewijnse D, Mesters I, Metsemakers J, Adriaans J, van den Borne B. Predictors of intention to adhere to physiotherapy among women with urinary incontinence. Health Educ Res. 2001;16(2):173-86. PMid:11345660. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/16.2.173
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/16.2.173...

6. Alewijnse D, Metsemakers JFM, Mesters IEPE, van den Borne B. Effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercise therapy supplemented with a health education program to promote long-term adherence among women with urinary incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2003;22(4):284-95. PMid:12808702. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nau.10122
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nau.10122...

7. Broome BAS. Development and testing of a scale to measure self-efficacy for pelvic muscle exercises in women with urinary incontinence. Urol Nurs.1999;19(4):258-268. PMid:10889770.

8. Sampselle CM, Messer KL, Seng JS, Raghunathan TE, Hines SH, Diokno AC. Learning outcomes of a group behavioral modification program to prevent urinary incontinence. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2005;16(6):441-6. PMid:16237512. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00192-005-1284-7
16237512...

9. Messer KL, Hines SH, Raghunathan TE, Seng JS, Diokno AC, Sampselle CM. Self-efficacy as a predictor to PFMT adherence in a prevention of urinary incontinence clinical trial. Health Educ Behav. 2007;34(6):942-52. PMid:17456856. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1090198106295399
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10901981062953... ^{- 10}10. Chen S-Y, Tzeng Y-L. Path analysis for adherence to pelvic floor muscle exercise among women with urinary incontinence. J Nurs Res. 2009;17(2):83-92. PMid:19516102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JNR.0b013e3181a53e7e
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JNR.0b013e3181... ^{, 19}19. Pajares F, Olaz F. Teoria Social Cognitiva e Auto-eficácia: uma visão geral. In: Bandura A, Azzi RG, Polydoro S. Teoria Social Cognitiva: Conceitos Básicos. Porto Alegre: Artmed; 2008.

20. Zinken KM, Cradock S, Skinner TC. Analysis System for Self-Efficacy Training (ASSET). Assessing treatment fidelity of self-management interventions. Patient Educ Couns. 2008;72(2):186-93. PMid:18534809. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2008.04.006
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2008.04.... ^{- 21}21. Wangberg SC. An Internet-based diabetes self-care intervention tailored to self-efficacy. Health Educ Res. 2008;23(1):170-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/cym014
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/cym014... .

Physical therapists often use health education strategies to change certain patient habits. The study of the issues that interfere with treatment adherence (e.g., a fear of falling among elderly patients²²22. Camargos FFO, Dias RC, Dias JMD, Freire MTF. Cross-cultural adaptation and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Falls Efficacy Scale - International Among Elderly Brazilians (FES-I-BRAZIL). Rev Bras Fisioter. 2010;14(3):237-43. PMid:20730369. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552010000300010
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552010... , the use of biomechanical insoles²³23. Guimarães C, Teixeira-Salmela L, Rocha I, Bicalho L, Sabino G. Factors related to compliance with biomechanical insole use. Rev Bras Fisioter. 2006;10(3):271-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552006000300004
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552006... , or practicing PFEs⁵5. Alewijnse D, Mesters I, Metsemakers J, Adriaans J, van den Borne B. Predictors of intention to adhere to physiotherapy among women with urinary incontinence. Health Educ Res. 2001;16(2):173-86. PMid:11345660. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/16.2.173
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/16.2.173...

6. Alewijnse D, Metsemakers JFM, Mesters IEPE, van den Borne B. Effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercise therapy supplemented with a health education program to promote long-term adherence among women with urinary incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2003;22(4):284-95. PMid:12808702. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nau.10122
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nau.10122...

7. Broome BAS. Development and testing of a scale to measure self-efficacy for pelvic muscle exercises in women with urinary incontinence. Urol Nurs.1999;19(4):258-268. PMid:10889770.

8. Sampselle CM, Messer KL, Seng JS, Raghunathan TE, Hines SH, Diokno AC. Learning outcomes of a group behavioral modification program to prevent urinary incontinence. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2005;16(6):441-6. PMid:16237512. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00192-005-1284-7
16237512...

9. Messer KL, Hines SH, Raghunathan TE, Seng JS, Diokno AC, Sampselle CM. Self-efficacy as a predictor to PFMT adherence in a prevention of urinary incontinence clinical trial. Health Educ Behav. 2007;34(6):942-52. PMid:17456856. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1090198106295399
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10901981062953... ^{- 10}10. Chen S-Y, Tzeng Y-L. Path analysis for adherence to pelvic floor muscle exercise among women with urinary incontinence. J Nurs Res. 2009;17(2):83-92. PMid:19516102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JNR.0b013e3181a53e7e
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JNR.0b013e3181... ) is becoming increasingly important.

Alewijnse et al.⁵5. Alewijnse D, Mesters I, Metsemakers J, Adriaans J, van den Borne B. Predictors of intention to adhere to physiotherapy among women with urinary incontinence. Health Educ Res. 2001;16(2):173-86. PMid:11345660. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/16.2.173
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/16.2.173... argued that a major predictor of PFE adherence is intention, a motive shaped by social influences, expectations, personal attitudes, and external variables. The present questionnaire addressed these items to determine its effect on treatment adherence. Thus, higher expectations regarding treatment should predict stronger motivations to adhere to treatment⁵. The application of this questionnaire (to treat or prevent urinary incontinence) provides information for the therapist regarding patients' levels of self-efficacy and motivation to perform the recommended therapy. This information is clinically relevant because it allows therapists to identify people with low self-efficacy and use strategies to improve a person's confidence with regard to the benefits of treatment.

The present study represents the first attempt to develop a scientific instrument to assess self-efficacy with regard to practicing PFEs in Brazil. Its application has the potential to improve its validity and reliability across different social and cultural contexts. Its use is also important with regard to planning and monitoring intervention projects of this nature, while avoiding high levels of participant evasion.

In conclusion, the SESPPFE is a viable and reliable measurement of the construct in question. This study is limited by its heterogeneous sample and the fact that only one group of women was evaluated using a digital vaginal exam. Therefore, we suggest that this scale is used and tested in future experiments.

References

Appendix 1 Self-Efficacy Scale for Practicing PFEs (SESPPFE).

Publication Dates

History