Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Among Female Physiotherapy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: No intervention.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Pelvic Floor Disorders. Basic parameters: 18 years — 25 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Egypt
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
This study aims to: 1. estimate the prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction among female physiotherapy students at Cairo University. 2. identify potential risk factors that may be associated with pelvic floor dysfunction in this student population. 3. assess the level of awareness regarding pelvic floor health among female physiotherapy students at Cairo University. 4. explore how female physiotherapy students at Cairo University utilize available healthcare resources for managing pelvic floor-related concerns.
Detailed description
Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a global health problem that affects millions of women worldwide. It encompasses a broad range of interrelated disorders affecting the pelvic region, including urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, constipation, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic organ prolapse. While PFD is often associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and aging, recent studies suggest that these conditions may also affect younger populations, including nulliparous women.
Pelvic floor health is crucial for supporting pelvic organs, maintaining continence, and facilitating sexual function. However, the impact of PFD on women's health and quality of life is significant, with important consequences for physical and mental well-being. These disorders often coexist and compound each other's impact, leading to disabling symptoms, embarrassment, social isolation, impaired task performance, loss of personal and intimate relationships, and reduced participation in leisure activities.
Despite the substantial burden of PFD, there is a lack of comprehensive data on the prevalence, risk factors, and awareness levels of these conditions among specific populations, particularly young women pursuing higher education. Physiotherapy students, who are expected to have a good understanding of musculoskeletal and pelvic health, represent an important group to study in this context.
Interventions
- Other No intervention
No intervention
Primary outcome measures
- Modified Australian pelvic floor questionnaire [Time frame: 2 months]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- A self-administered survey [Time frame: 2 months]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Virgin undergraduate physiotherapy students.
- Their age will range from 18-25 years.
Exclusion criteria
- Neurological disorders or injuries that may affect pelvic floor function (e.g., fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis).
- Mental health or cognitive disorders that could affect data collection.
- Females who have undergone any form of abdominal surgery prior to the time of the study.
- Females with current use of medications that may affect pelvic floor function (e.g., anticholinergics, opioids, antidepressants).
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
Study locations
Egypt · 1 center
- Cairo University — Giza
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06808542 · P.T.REC/012/005385