Browsing by Author "Goksuluk, Merve Basol"

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Self-Reported Urinary Incontinence Prevalence in Women with Versus Without Regular Structured Exercise: A Cross-Sectional Study
(Dokuz Eylül University Institute of Health Sciences, 2025) Goksuluk, Merve Basol; Yeşilyurt, Seda Yakıt; Olgun, Başak; Civelek, Buket; Erak, İlknur; Gürbüzer, Ezgi
Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare urinary incontinence (UI) between women with and without regular structured exercise habits. Material and Methods: A total of 184 women, including 92 with regular and structured exercise habits and 92 without, were included in this study conducted between May and December 2024. Reported UI (Global Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire), symptoms, and impact on quality of life (Incontinence Severity Index, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form) were assessed in all women. This study was conducted following the STROBE guidelines. Results: The prevalence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), a subtype of UI, was significantly higher in women without structured exercise habits (p=0.018). The average duration of exercise among women with regular exercise habits was 24 months (range 6–240), and 85% practiced Pilates. In addition, women with structured exercise habits had higher education levels (p<0.001), and a large proportion were employed as civil servants and retirees (p<0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Women who engage in regular and structured exercise have a lower prevalence of SUI. Women with exercise habits tend to have higher education and socioeconomic levels, and the impact of incontinence on quality of life is less severe.
Turkish Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Barriers to Incontinence Care-Seeking Questionnaire
(Springer London Ltd, 2025) Yesilyurt, Seda Yakit; Hekimoglu, Hanife Busra; Goksuluk, Merve Basol; Gonzalez, Patricia Brihuega; Cankaya, Hatice; Ozengin, Nuriye
Introduction and HypothesisThis study was aimed at adapting, validating, and assessing the reliability of the Turkish version of the "Barriers to Incontinence Care-Seeking Questionnaire" (BICS-Q).MethodsOne hundred and forty-eight Turkish women with mild to moderate urinary incontinence (UI) was assessed. The adaptation process was conducted in alignment with the COSMIN guidelines: forward-backward translation, expert review, cultural adaptation, and a pilot study. For construct validity, items from the study by El-Azab and Shaaban, which measure barriers to seeking care for incontinence, were adapted to this self-reported questionnaire (BICS-Q), and their associations with the total score as well as the subscale scores of the questionnaire were evaluated. Cronbach's alpha was used for internal consistency, and the intraclass correlation (ICC) coefficient was estimated for test-retest reliability.ResultsThe psychometric analyses indicated that the Turkish BICS-Q has high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.846) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.854). Item analysis revealed that each item was significantly correlated with the total score, thereby confirming construct validity. It was also found that embarrassment, financial concerns, and low expectations from medical consultation were ranked as the most important barriers to treatment.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated the applicability of the Turkish BICS-Q for both research and clinical purposes, emphasizing its role in identifying health care inequalities and guiding policy improvements for women with UI. The present validation study provides evidence that the Turkish BICS-Q is an appropriate tool for assessing barriers to incontinence care seeking that can be used to further research and interventions toward overcoming the barriers in Turkey.