Association of Urinary Incontinence Awareness and Bladder Habits with Quality of Life Among Health Care Professionals Working in High-Risk Units.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: This study was aimed at evaluating the association between urinary incontinence awareness, bladder habits, and quality of life among health care professionals working in high-risk clinical units. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 520 health care professionals working in the emergency departments, intensive care units, and operating rooms of two state hospitals. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the Urinary Incontinence Awareness and Attitude Scale, the Urogenital Distress Inventory, and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey Quality of Life Scale. Data were analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions version 27.0 and Statistical Analysis System version 9.4. Descriptive statistics, t tests, variance analyses, Fisher's exact test, Pearson's correlation analyses, and ANCOVA analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the participants, 55.6% were women and 72.5% were nurses. The prevalence of was 27.3% among women and 21.6% among men, with no statistically significant difference between the groups. Educational level, profession, presence of , knowledge of pelvic floor muscle exercises, and bladder habits were significantly associated with both the physical and the mental components of quality of life (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that -related factors and bladder habits might be associated with the quality of life of health care professionals working in high-risk units. Interventions aimed at promoting healthy bladder habits, increasing awareness of pelvic floor muscle exercises, and preventing or managing may have the potential to support physical and mental well-being in this population, although this should be confirmed by longitudinal and intervention studies.