The objective of this study is to develop a reliable, validated questionnaire to assess patient knowledge about urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). We designed a written questionnaire comprised of UI and POP scales and administered it to 133 gynecologic and 61 urogynecologic patients. We performed a principal components factor analysis for UI and POP items and assessed construct validity, internal consistency, and stability of each scale. For both scales, mean total urogynecologic group scores exceeded those for gynecologic patients (P values < 0.001), suggesting construct validity. Both scales had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.8). Mean test scores were slightly higher upon retest (UI, 0.46, P = 0.046; POP, 0.33, P = 0.126). Pearson's correlation between initial and repeat scores was high for UI (0.675) and POP scales (0.940), indicating questionnaire stability. We developed a reliable, valid instrument for assessing patient knowledge about UI and POP.

The objective of this study was to describe the distribution of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery across age groups in the USA in 2003. Patients were grouped into four age categories: Reproductive age, perimenopausal, postmenopausal, and elderly. Data from the 2003 National Hospital Discharge Survey and National Census were used to estimate surgical rates by age group. In 2003, 199,698 women underwent a total of 311,587 surgical procedures for POP. Prolapse surgical rates (per 10,000 women) were 7, 24, 31, and 17 in reproductive age, perimenopausal, postmenopausal, and elderly age groups, respectively. Surgical complications occurred in 28.8, 19.6, 18.6, and 22.1% of women in these age groups, respectively. Mortality was uncommon. Although often considered a condition of the elderly, this study suggests that pelvic organ prolapse is a condition affecting women across the reproductive life cycle and for which women of all ages seek surgical treatment.

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