Predictors of care seeking in women with urinary incontinence. Minassian VA, et al. Neurourol and Urodyanm 2012;31:470-474.

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s hospital surveyed 4,064 women and found 40% self reported UI.  Of those women only 25% had received the official diagnosis of UI according to the medical records.  In other words 75% of women with symptoms of UI do not receive the official diagnosis – did not tell MD, told MD and did not receive the dx????  After several calculation factors associated with receiving the dx were noted.  Does not seem to be too much surprise, those with higher bother, impact on behavior and urgency type UI are more likely to receive the dx.  Also those who seek more care overall, older women, and women with one or more deliveries.  The take home message for me is the people who do not receive the dx – presumably younger women with more mild symptoms, especially those who have not had a child.  The key is to develop strategies on how to reach these women.  Please post your ideas.  How do you reach women who might otherwise not seek care for UI?