Exploring nulliparous women’s perceptions of pelvic organ prolapse treatments: A qualitative study for enhancing nursing care in Romania

Abstract

Background: There remains a significant gap in understanding what nulliparous (NP) women desire in terms of treatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) before pregnancy and childbirth. Objective: This study aimed to assess the perceptions of young NP women without POP regarding various POP treatments and identify their preferred treatment options to enhance quality in nursing practice. Methods: This study employed a qualitative descriptive design involving thirteen young NP women at the Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University from Constanța, Romania. Age, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, previous surgical interventions, and smoking status were evaluated. Participants underwent a semi-structured interview from January to February 2024, during which their perceptions of different POP treatments were explored. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and were analyzed using content analysis. Results: The mean age of the NP women without POP was 24.23 years, with 61.53% having a BMI of 30 or greater and 69.23% reporting previous surgical interventions. Four dominant themes emerged: 1) the Internet as a source of information about treatments for POP; 2) insufficient knowledge about POP symptoms; 3) the preference for supervised PFM training; and 4) choosing the surgical treatments by vaginal route, although wishing to preserve the uterus. Conclusion: The findings indicated that young NP women’s perceptions of POP treatments were primarily influenced by online information. The preferred treatment for POP among young NP women was conservative, with a strong emphasis on supervised PFM training. This study provides valuable insights into nursing practice by highlighting NP women’s perceptions and preferences for PFM training as a treatment for POP, potentially contributing to delaying the onset of this condition in their lives.

Keywords

• Romania
• nulliparous women
• pelvic organ prolapse
• uterus
• perception
• body mass index