Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including urinary incontinence (UI) and overactive bladder (OAB), are prevalent urogynecology conditions that affect women's quality of life. Despite their clinical importance, these symptoms are often underreported and inadequately managed, even among healthcare professionals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of UI and OAB among female healthcare professionals, assess their knowledge and attitudes toward UI, and identify predictors associated with these conditions.
A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted among 493 female healthcare professionals from primary and tertiary healthcare institutions in Novi Sad, Serbia, adhering to the STROBE guidelines. Data were collected using validated instruments: the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF), the Overactive Bladder Module (ICIQ-OAB), the Urinary Incontinence Knowledge Scale (UIKS), and the Urinary Incontinence Attitude Scale (UIAS).
The prevalence of UI and OAB was high, at 35.5% and 53.1%, respectively, with stress UI as the predominant subtype. Mean UIKS and UIAS scores (19.2 ± 4.8 out of 30, 42.6 ± 4.1 out of 60, respectively) indicated moderate knowledge and generally positive attitudes toward UI. In the logistic regression model, age was the only independent predictor associated with UI: women aged 46-64 years had higher odds of reporting UI than those aged 19-30 years (OR = 1.85, p = 0.042). For OAB, age and UIAS score were identified as independent predictors. Older age was associated with higher odds of OAB (OR = 1.98, p = 0.004), whereas higher UIAS scores were associated with lower odds of OAB (OR = 0.92, p < 0.001).
UI and OAB are highly prevalent among female healthcare professionals, highlighting LUTS as an under-recognised occupational and women's health issue. Although attitudes toward UI are generally positive, knowledge levels remain moderate, particularly in domains related to symptom control and risk factors. These results suggest that LUTS are associated with both non-modifiable factors, such as age, and potentially modifiable psychosocial factors, such as attitudes toward UI. Targeted educational and preventive initiatives should be integrated into undergraduate and continuing professional training to improve continence awareness, earlier recognition, and timely management.
Frontiers in global women's health. 2026 Jun 23*** epublish ***
Dragana Milutinović, Biljana Kennaway, Eva Stojković, Branislava Baturan, Clara Canning Jones, Dragana Živković
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia., Private Practice, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Zürich, Switzerland., Department of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia., Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia., School of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.