Questionnaire survey on female urinary frequency and incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is a well-known bothersome symptom in women, which may cause physical and psychological problems. We conducted a questionnaire survey on female urinary incontinence to investigate the disease's impact on the quality of life (QoL), the reasons women don't seek medical attention and the information they wished to obtain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From March to October 2002, a member of the Professional Women's Coalition for Sexuality and Health distributed a questionnaire about urinary frequency and urinary incontinence to women who were attending the lectures hosted by the group. RESULTS: We analysed 262 questionnaires: 158 people belonged to the Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) Group, 36 to the Overactive Bladder (OAB) Group, 22 to the Urinary Frequency (UF) Group and 18 to the Normal Group. 'Going out' was most influenced in all three groups with symptoms in their daily life. Compared with the Normal or SUI Group, the QoL in those belonging to the OAB and UF Groups was more deteriorated. The medical institution check-up rate in the SUI Group was the lowest at 7.1%, bringing down the overall consultation rate to 13.5%. More than 70% of respondents who didn't have a check-up said that they did not think it was a problem serious enough to require consultation. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary incontinence and frequency impairs women's QoL. It is important to provide information on these diseases and to provide medical treatments that cater to the needs of individual patients.

Influences of sex-related information for STD prevention.

PURPOSE: Adolescents obtain information about sex from the media and friends and so on. This study explores the influence and needs of sex-related information from mass media and other resources. METHODS: Thirteen Focus Group Interviews were conducted with 88 high school and university students (46 female/42 male) from August 2001 to February 2002. RESULTS: Friends or seniors are the most important source of information, and adolescents felt much peer pressure by such information while they learned STD prevention and contraception. The participants were aware of the inconsistencies and biases of information they get through the media. They thought women's magazines seriously treated sex as a health issue concerning women, and provided useful information. CONCLUSIONS: Influences the media has on the knowledge and awareness of young people are significant. It is crucial to fill the gap between the intention of the transmitter of information and the needs of the audience so that the media can be better utilized for sexual health promotion.