Ergül Aslan

Urinary incontinence (UI) and quality of life (QoL) of the elderly residing in residential homes in Turkey.

The objective of this study was to evaluate urinary incontinence (UI) and its effect on the quality of life (QoL) of older people dwelling in residential homes in Turkey. A cross-sectional study was applied in residential homes. A total of 1110 people older than 60 years residing in five selected residential homes were studied. An interview was conducted with the residents who had sufficient cognitive function and agreed to participate. The QoL and the mental and the functional state of the residents were analyzed using the Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Rankin Scale, respectively: Of the total pool, 694 residents were included in the study of which 56.48% (n=392) were female and 43.52% (n=302) were male. UI was present in 170 women and 63 men. Pad usage was more common in women (88%) than that in men (29.1%). The QoL subdimensions showed that women had higher scores than men. Urge UI (UUI) had more impact on the QoL than that on functional, mixed or stress incontinence. We concluded that UI negatively affects the QoL of older people living in residential homes. In particular, women and patients suffering from UUI are more severely affected.

An assessment of the importance of pad testing in stress urinary incontinence and the effects of incontinence on the life quality of women

Abstract Our objectives in this study were to determine the severity of incontinence using pad testing and the effects of incontinence on the life quality of women with stress incontinence. Fifty women with a diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence were selected for the study. The Symptom Severity Index (SSI) and Symptom Impact Index (SII) were used to determine the severity and impact of incontinence. Afterwards the women were given a 1-h pad test. According to the pad tests 38% of women suffered severe to very severe incontinence. Women who showed severe incontinence on pad testing scored high in the SSI; on the other hand, no relationship was found between SII and pad test indicators. It was also observed that both SSI and SII scores increased with increasing age of the women (SSI: r=0.29, P<0.05; SII: r=0.30 P<0.05). It may therefore be concluded that the severity of incontinence makes no difference in the effects of incontinence on the life quality of women.

Sexual life of women in the climacterium: A community-based study

ABSTRACT Our purpose of conducting this community-based study was to determine sexual functions of women in climacterium and effects of menopausal symptoms on sexual functions. It was descriptive, cross-sectional, and community-based. The study sample consisted of 282 climacteric women. Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W) were used for data collection. The total score was 13.42 ± 8.82 for MRS, 18.73 ± 9.79 for FSFI, and 82.56 ± 18.07 for SSS-W. Seventy-nine-point four percent of the women had sexual dysfunction. While complaints typical of the climacteric period increased, sexual functions and satisfaction decreased.