Julia H HerbertConsultant Continence Physiotherapist

Grad. Dip. Phys. MSc. MCSP.

Awareness of the Role of the Pelvic Floor Specific Issues talking to teenagers Materials now available Thanks to Liz-Howard-Thornton, Sylvia Craine,

Claire Holden and Gill Pearl.

You only get one You only get one pelvic floor in life – pelvic floor in life –

look after it!look after it!

November 2008, Joint project:National education sub-committee for the Association for Continence Advice (ACA) and the ACA pelvic floor specialinterest group identified ……there is a need to empower a younger generation of women to become more pelvic floor muscle aware from an earlier age.

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May 2009What’s available?Literature review with school nurseA few leaflets aimed at teenagers identified:Mainly focussed onadolescencemenstruationsexual activity contraceptionsexually transmitted infectiongeneral information regarding healthy living - diet and exercise.

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1 Leaflet was identified – ‘Don’t Laugh Until You Read This’! - this stated that it had been produced with input from teenagers and parents. Produced by Educational Resources Educational and Resources for Improving Childhood Incontinence (ERIC)

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Issues with existing literature…..Colours, pictures, formatting, language - not

attractive to engage with teenage readership?

“The healthcare professional is notalways best placed to judge whether aleaflet is good or not: assistance is neededfrom those in the target readership.”(Pearl 2007)

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Half day session arranged17 teenagers - Community High School(plus 2 members of staff – one male, one

female – supervisory passive role)Age – approximately 17 – studying health and

social care

Health QuestionnaireFocus GroupEducational session

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● What is your heart?● Where is your heart?● What does it do?● How should you keep yourheart healthy?● What causes damage toyour heart?● What is your pelvic floor?● Where is your pelvic floor?● What does it do?● How should you keep ithealthy?● What causes damage toyour pelvic floor?● Draw a diagram of yourbody showing the heart andthe pelvic floor.

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● We learn things about healthwithout looking to do so.Where do you learn mostabout women’s health? Putthe scores in the order fromwhere you learn the most (1)to where you learn the least(18). (Eighteen sources ofinformation listed.)● If you needed someinformation about a heartproblem, where would yougo to find the information?Put the scores in order fromwhere you learn the most (1)to where you learn the least(18). (Eighteen sources ofinformation listed.)

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● If you were running in anexercise class and yousuddenly wet yourself, whatwould you do?● Where would you go to findout more information aboutthis problem if you wantedit? Put the scores in orderfrom where you learn themost (1) to where you learnthe least (18). (Eighteensources of information listed.

● If you use the internet forthis information, what wordswould you put in to search?● What would you do whenthe exercise class cameround next week?

5 students agreed to also take part in a focus group to discuss further the answers to the questionnaire

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● “Mum tried to teach how to do it butcouldn’t get the hang of it”● “Mum did them when she had mysister”● “Heard about them at pilates class”● “Do them to strengthen the bladderand tighten vagina”

Only 35% stated that they would consider seeking help for a problem

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● Seven students stated “weak bladder”● Five mentioned “bladder problems”● Two searched on “uncontrollable”● Two mentioned “how to control”● One searched “unnecessary”● One stated “information”

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Be a small handbag sized booklet Contain cartons and colour pictures – happy to

have some anatomical pictures but not on the front cover!

Not green or yellow prefer purple or turquoise Does not have to say in the title what its about. Prefer Q&A format - older teenagers like some

explanation Mention sex – best reason to do pelvic floor exercises!

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Like Like speech speech bubblesbubbles

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Howard-Thornton L. et al (2011). Pelvic floor health: information for teenagers. Nursing Times; 107: 17, 14-17.

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Pelvic floor awareness guide for Teenagers - available from Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Incontinence (ERIC)www.eric.org.uk

The Teens Hub – ERICMessage Board - ERIC

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Facebook campaignDownloadable fact-sheet

Squeezy appAvailable for i phone (android version coming soon)Developed by a Women’s Health Physiotherapistapps.nhs.uk/app/squeezy/

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www.pelvicfloorge.com

Consider how teenagers want to communicate about pelvic floor muscle issues

Barriers to talking about pelvic floor issuesResources availableA brighter (dryer) future?

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