[Diagnosis and therapy of urinary incontinence in Dutch gynecologic practice; a questionnaire study].

OBJECTIVE

Assessment of modalities in diagnosis and treatment of female urinary incontinence by Dutch gynaecologists.

DESIGN

Written questionnaire.

SETTING

All officially registered Dutch gynaecological practices.

METHOD

All 138 gynaecological practices were sent a multiple choice questionnaire. One representative of the practice was requested to respond. Differences were evaluated using the chi 2 test.

RESULTS

The response was 87% (93% of the teaching hospitals and 86% of the non-teaching hospitals). Diagnostic and treatment modalities of female urinary incontinence by Dutch gynaecologists proved to vary. Urodynamics are primarily under control of urologists. The Burch colposuspension as operative treatment of stress incontinence is fairly popular among Dutch gynaecologists, but the less successful anterior colporrhaphy with Kelly plication is also still performed rather frequently. Co-operation between gynaecologist and urologist is mainly practised in teaching hospitals at meetings at which patient histories and urodynamics are discussed.

CONCLUSION

There is need for systematism in diagnosis and treatment of female urinary incontinence and for intensification of co-operation between gynaecologists and urologists. Adequate training and postgraduate teaching courses in diagnosis and treatment of female urinary incontinence should be provided for both specialisms.