Factors Influencing Help-Seeking Behavior in Patients with Urinary Incontinence: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent condition that significantly affects quality of life but remains underreported. Understanding the factors that influence patients’ decisions to seek medical consultation is essential for improving care-seeking behavior and ensuring timely intervention. This study aimed to identify the facilitators of seeking medical consultation among individuals with UI in a Saudi secondary care setting.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2024 to April 2025 among adult patients with UI attending urology and urogynecology outpatient clinics at a single tertiary center. Participants completed a structured, self-administered questionnaire that comprised sociodemographic data, the ICIQ-UI SF, and 33 potential motivators for seeking care, categorized into six domains.

Results:

A total of 241 participants were included in the study. The 33-item scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.945). The most influential domains were daily and physical impact, followed by emotional and psychological factors. Top facilitators included interference with prayers (66.8%), use of pads (62.2%), social limitations (63.9%), frequent clothing changes (64.7%), and fear of worsening symptoms (63.5%). Cultural factors, such as access to same-sex specialists (52.2%), were also prominent. Logistic regression identified age, marital status, and motivators from several domains as significant predictors. Key independent predictors included prayer interference, leakage frequency, and gender-concordant care.

Conclusions:

Help-seeking for UI is influenced by physical, emotional, social, and cultural factors. Enhancing patient education, addressing sociocultural sensitivities, and promoting physician-led discussions foster earlier care-seeking and improve health outcomes in populations with traditionally low treatment uptake.