Urinary incontinence: Evaluation of an information campaign directed towards the general public

Objective. To study and evaluate the effect of an information campaign in the form of a brochure on urinary incontinence (UI) directed towards the general public, concerning knowledge, individual health behaviour, self-reported healthcare utilization and how the information was perceived. Material and methods. Within a community in central Sweden a random sample of the population, in age groups from 18 years upwards, was selected from the population registry, resulting in a total sample of 3658 people. The study group was sent the brochure Treatment of urinary incontinence, produced by SBU (Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care) in March 2003 and a questionnaire 1-2 months after the brochure was received. Results. The overall response rate was 47.5%. Eighty per cent of the responders stated UI as an important health problem in society and 66% that they had gained new knowledge on UI. Twenty-eight per cent of the responders reported a current or previous history of UI, of whom 49% felt that they had received useful information for self-treatment and 21% had begun self-treatment. Conclusion. This population-based study found that the distribution of a brochure on UI to the general public was well received and can be an efficient method to spread knowledge and encourage self-management.