Accessibility of Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Treating Urinary Incontinence in Older Women in Quebec: An Online Survey

Abstract

Purpose: This cross-sectional descriptive study describes available pelvic floor physiotherapy (PT) services for older women with urinary incontinence (UI) in Quebec, Canada, and identifies possible affordability barriers. Methods: From September to December 2019, Quebec physiotherapists practising pelvic floor PT were invited to complete a survey on their clinical practice and perceptions of the affordability of UI treatment for older women. Results: Eighty-four of the 225 registered pelvic floor physiotherapists (37.3%) filled out the online survey. They worked a median of 32 hours/week in PT, with 15 of those hours (46.9%) in pelvic floor PT and three hours (9.8%) treating UI in older women. Only 13.0% of them offered group treatment, while 84.3% were interested in it. Most of the physiotherapists (92.2%) had met older women in their practice who had reported financial barriers to completing their pelvic floor PT treatment. Conclusions: The accessibility of UI care in Quebec appears hampered by the limited availability of pelvic floor PT treatments, mainly in public settings, and potential financial constraints. Providing pelvic floor PT to groups could constitute a promising avenue to tackle both issues. Future studies should look at ways of implementing this option.