Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40695734›Full record

ArticleLower urinary tract symptoms2025

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Physiotherapists Regarding the Management of Urinary Incontinence in Elderly Patients in France: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Julie Swiderski, Joëlle Lansonneur Leterme, Fréderic Bloch, François-Régis Sarhan

Abstract read
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Article in Lower urinary tract symptoms, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Julie SwiderskiPhysiotherapy School, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens-Picardie, Amiens, France.
Joëlle Lansonneur LetermePhysiotherapy School, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens-Picardie, Amiens, France.
Fréderic BlochGeriatric Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens-Picardie, Amiens, France.
François-Régis SarhanPhysiotherapy School, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens-Picardie, Amiens, France.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5079-9872

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

contextStudies on nurses' and nursing assistants' perceptions of urinary incontinence (UI) in the elderly are well-documented; however, little to no research focuses specifically on physiotherapists. This study aims to explore physiotherapists' perspectives on UI among elderly patients.

objectivesTo assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physiotherapists in France regarding managing UI in elderly patients, and to explore how training influences their confidence and clinical behaviors.

methodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among physiotherapists practicing in France. The questionnaire addressed sociodemographic characteristics, experience with elderly patients with UI, and training in pelvic-perineal rehabilitation. Descriptive statistics and χ

resultsA total of 106 responses were collected. Among respondents, 80 (75.5%) reported knowing UI in elderly patients, but 62 (58.5%) expressed feeling powerless when managing such cases. Only 62 (58.5%) reported having the skills to help patients with UI, and just 10 (9.4%) used validated assessment tools. Physiotherapists who had received prior training-whether through initial education, continuing education, or self-directed study-were significantly more likely to report confidence, satisfaction, and proper use of tools (p < 0.01). A majority, 75 (70.8%), indicated a need for further training, and 60 (56.6%) expressed the need for clinical guidelines. DISCUSSION: This study reveals a gap between physiotherapists' knowledge of UI and their ability to manage it confidently in elderly patients. Training was significantly associated with greater competence and use of recommended practices. The underuse of assessment tools and expressed need for clearer guidelines suggest structural gaps in support and education.

conclusionImproving UI training and access to standardized tools could enhance physiotherapists' confidence and quality of care. Although conducted in France, these findings may inform international strategies to address similar gaps in geriatric continence care. MESH: Urinary Incontinence; Aged; Geriatric Assessment; Pelvic Floor; Physical Therapy Modalities; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Surveys and Questionnaires; Education, Professional; Education, Continuing; Clinical Competence; France.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticePhysical TherapistsUrinary IncontinenceAdultAgedAttitude of Health PersonnelCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFranceHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID40695734
PMCPMC12283249

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.