Do levels of self-efficacy affect urinary incontinence, falls, quality of life, sleep, and physical activity in elderly people with urinary incontinence?

Background Our study aims to determine whether different self-efficacy (SE) levels affect urinary incontinence symptoms, falls, quality of life, sleep, and physical activity in elderly individuals with incontinence. Our secondary aim is to examine the relationship between SE levels and urinary incontinence severity, quality of life, sleep status, fear of falling, and physical activity level. Methods One hundred twenty elderly individuals (median age: 71 years) with urinary incontinence participated in the cross-sectional study. Participants were divided into 3 groups as levels of low, moderate, and high according to their Geriatric SE Index for Urinary Incontinence (GSE-UI). Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (I-QOL), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Fall Efficacy Scale (FES), Rapid Assessment Physical Activity (RAPA), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) assessments associated with incontinence were performed. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Spearman's correlation. Results A significant difference was found in UDI-6, IIQ-7, I-QOL, and FES belonging to three groups according to GSE-UI levels (p <0.01, p <0.01, p <0.01). It was determined that the group with low GSE-UI level had the highest incontinence symptoms, fear of falling, and the lowest quality of life statistically significant. A negative moderate significant correlation was found between GSE-UI scores and UDI-6 (r: - .67, p <0.01), IIQ-7 (r: - .67, p <0.01), and FES (r: - .46, p <0.01). Conclusion In elderly individuals with urinary incontinence, the level of SE may affect incontinence symptoms, severity, fear of falling, and quality of life and may be an important factor for incontinence. An increased level of SE may lead to positive effects on the user interface. Further studies in this field are needed

Adaptation, validity and reliability of geriatric self-efficacy index for urinary incontinence (GSE-UI) in geriatric incontinents

Purpose The purpose of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the GSE-UI for use with a Turkish population and to determine its validity and reliability. Methods 120 elderly with UI aged 60 and over years (mean 72.89 +/- 9.59 years) participated in this study. An interview was held to determine the type, severity and frequency if any, incontinence. Then, the Mini-Mental State Examination, IIQ-7, UDI-6 and I-QOL questionnaires were administered to the participants. After translating the tool to Turkish, test and retest was performed with an interval of 7-14 days. Results The internal consistency of the first test of the GSE-UI-Turkish was excellent, with a Cronbach alpha of 0.95. The test-retest reliability of the GSE-UI-Turkish was found to be excellent (ICC = 0.94, 95% CI 0.92-0.96). The correlation coefficient between the GSE-UI-Turkish and the UDI-6, IIQ-7, I-QOL were found to be good to excellent (r = 0.68, r = 0.67, r = 0.81, r = 0.45, respectively; p < 0.0001). Conclusion Results of our study GSE-UI of Turkish version, self-efficacy evaluation in geriatric incontinence was a valid and reliable survey that can be used in clinical practice

Are clinically recommended pelvic floor muscle relaxation positions really efficient for muscle relaxation?

Introduction and hypothesis Various positions for pelvic floor muscle (PFM) relaxation are recommended during PFM training in physiotherapy clinics. To our knowledge, there is no study addressing the most effective position for PFM and abdominal muscle relaxation. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of different relaxation positions on PFM and abdominal muscle functions in women with urinary incontinence (UI). Methods Sixty-seven women diagnosed with UI were enrolled in the study. The type, frequency, and amount of UI were assessed with the International Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form and bladder diary. Superficial electromyography was used to assess PFM and abdominal muscle functions during three relaxation positions: modified butterfly pose (P1), modified child pose (P2), and modified deep squat with block (P3). Friedman variance analyses and Wilcoxon signed rank test with Bonferroni corrections were used to evaluate the difference between positions. Results The most efficient position for PFM relaxation was P1 and followed by P3 and P2, respectively. The order was also the same for abdominal muscles (p P3 > P2. The rectus abdominis (RA) was the most affected muscle during PFM relaxation. The extent of relaxation of RA muscle increased as the extent of PFM relaxation increased (r = 0.298, p = 0.016). No difference was found between different types of UI during the same position in terms of PFM relaxation extents (p > 0.05). Conclusions Efficient PFM relaxation is maintained during positions recommended in physiotherapy clinics. The extent of PFM and abdominal muscle relaxation varies according to the positions

Prediction of ischemic placental diseases during the first trimester combined test period: a retrospective cohort of low-risk pregnancies in search of the link between parity and disease

Objective: To assess the predictive power of a multifactorial model established on maternal characteristics, placenta-associated plasma protein A (PAPPA), and the mean uterine artery pulsatility index (Ut A PI) levels for the development of ischemic placental diseases (IPD) during the first-trimester combined test (FTCT) period and to evaluate the strength of some generally accepted clinical risk factors

THE EFFECT OF MALFUNCTIONS IN AIR HANDLING UNITS ON ENERGY AND EXERGY EFFICIENCY

In this study, the effects of malfunctions and problems occurring in the system components of air handling units, which are the main elements of the air conditioning system, on the energy consumption were investigated. Investigations were carried out in 10 air handling units located in 5 different shopping centers of Turkey. The malfunctions and problems that may occur in operation of air handling units were determined and the problems causing the decrease in the efficiency prescribed by the design characteristics were determined. For this purpose, rod-type anemometer measuring the airflow in the air handling unit ducts, propeller-type anemometer, and thermal camera were used to measure air tightness and heat losses in the body structure. Also, the tension control of the belt of the fan motors, which is one of the main components of the energy consumption unit, and the pollution control of the air filter have also been carried out. The flow rate of water circulating in air handling units was determined, and losses were detected by energy and exergy analyses with thermodynamic parameters for summer and winter periods. As a result of the calculations, it was determined that the energy efficiency of the air handling units in the cooling period was 63.7% and the exergy efficiency was 59.6%. The energy loss is 471 kW and the exergy loss is 27 kW in the cooling period. The energy loss is 957 kW and the exergy loss is 127 kW in the heating period. The energy efficiency and the exergy efficiency during the heating period was calculated to be 75% and 41.7%, respectively.WOS:0005578810000022-s2.0-8508796808

Pelvic floor muscle function and symptoms of dysfunctions in midwifes and nurses of reproductive age with and without pelvic floor dysfunction

Objectives: This study aims to compare pelvic floor muscle (PFM) functions in midwifes and nurses of reproductive age with and without pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and investigate the relationship between PFM function and the number, type and symptoms of PFDs

Benefits of short-term structured exercise in non-overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective randomized controlled study

[Purpose] The short-term effects of structured exercise on the anthropometric, cardiovascular, and metabolic parameters of non-overweight women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome were evaluated. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty women with a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome were prospectively randomized to either a control group (n=16) or a training group (n=14) for a period of 8 weeks. Anthropometric, cardiovascular, and metabolic parameters and hormone levels were measured and compared before and after the intervention. [Results] Waist and hip measurements (anthropometric parameters); diastolic blood pressure; respiratory rate (cardiovascular parameters); levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin; and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (metabolic parameters) were significantly lower in the training group after 8 weeks of exercise compared to the baseline values. After exercise, the training group had significantly higher oxygen consumption and high-density lipoprotein levels and significantly shorter menstrual cycle intervals. The corresponding values for controls did not significantly differ between the start and end of the 8-week experiment. [Conclusion] Short-term regular exercise programs can lead to improvements in anthropometric, cardiovascular, and metabolic parameters of non-overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome