Conhecimento da incontinência urinária em pacientes pós-acidente vascular cerebral: um estudo transversal com fisioterapeutas brasileiros

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. There is usually a greater focus on sensorimotor repercussions, but approximately 53% of affected patients report urinary incontinence (UI) after four weeks of stroke. The UI can impair quality of life of individuals, a public health problem, and it is necessary to know if health professionals such as Brazilian physiotherapists know about this subject. Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge of Brazilian physical therapists about urinary incontinence in post-stroke patients, its assessment, and management. Material and methods: This is a cross-sectional and analytical study. It was carried out through an online form with 171 Brazilian physical therapists registered in the professional class council, over 18 years old, and working in clinical practice of post-stroke rehabilitation. Participants answered a questionnaire containing identification questions, knowledge about UI in post-stroke patients, its evaluation, and management. Results: It was possible to observe that Brazilian physiotherapists who work in post-stroke rehabilitation recognize the types of urinary incontinence but report little or no knowledge of UI after stroke. In addition, most of these professionals do not evaluate and do not directly intervene in UI in post-stroke patients in the rehabilitation process, with frequent referrals to other professionals. Conclusion: From the results, we see the need for awareness and implementation of evaluations and interventions with a broader look at the person post-stroke in rehabilitation, also considering aspects related to urinary continence.