Validity Testing of the Stopwatch Urine Stream Interruption Test in Radical Prostatectomy Patients

Abstract

Objective To assess convergent validity of the stopwatch urine stream interruption test (UST). Specific aims were to describe relationships among stopwatch UST scores and four common clinical indices of pelvic floor muscle strength: 24-hour urine leakage, confidence in performing pelvic muscle exercise, 24-hour pad count, and daily pelvic muscle exercise count. Design Secondary analysis; instrumentation study. Methods The final sample consisted of baseline stopwatch UST scores and measurements of comparison variables from 47 participants in a randomized clinical trial of three approaches to pelvic floor training for patients with urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy. The sample size provided 80% power to detect correlations of moderate strength or higher. The stopwatch UST was conducted in an examination room at the study site by trained study personnel. Measurements of comparison variables were obtained from three instruments: 24-hour pad test, Broome Pelvic Muscle Self-Efficacy Scale, and 3-day bladder diary. Relationships among study variables were evaluated with Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Results Stopwatch UST scores were moderately correlated with 24-hour urine leakage on the 24-hour pad test (r = .35, p < .05), the most robust comparison measure. Correlations between stopwatch UST scores and all other comparison measures were in the appropriate direction, although weak and did not reach statistical significance Conclusion Findings suggest the stopwatch UST may be a valid index of pelvic floor muscle strength in men following radical prostatectomy. With further testing, the stopwatch UST could become a valuable clinical tool for assessing pelvic floor muscle strength in radical prostatectomy patients with urinary incontinence.

Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence and Nursing Care: An Integrative Review

“…Just as important as promoting muscle training is to look for strategies that can allow the measurement of muscle strength. In this regard, years later, Robinson et al 16 , used a stopwatch in the urine stream interruption test. Although preliminary, the results pointed out that the use of the stopwatch can be a practical, economical and promising reference for nursing in the evaluation of the evolution of patients in PFMT.…”

Influence of the urine stream interruption exercise on micturition

“…The afferent pathway is over the pudendal nerves and posterior roots of the third and fourth sacral segments . The urodynamic tests called stop‐test or stop‐flow test or urine stream interruption test , are used in several indications: to assess the bladder contractility, the strength of perineal muscles or the continence prognosis around a pelvi‐perineal surgery . The stop‐test can be performed with a mechanical occlusion (catheter inflated balloon) or with a voluntary pelvic floor muscles contraction to interrupt the urine flow.…”

“…10 The urodynamic tests called stop-test or stop-flow test or urine stream interruption test, are used in several indications: to assess the bladder contractility, [11][12][13][14] the strength of perineal muscles [15][16][17][18] or the continence prognosis around a pelvi-perineal surgery. [19][20][21][22][23] The stop-test can be performed with a mechanical occlusion (catheter inflated balloon) or with a voluntary pelvic floor muscles contraction to interrupt the urine flow. When the stop-test is performed with a voluntary contraction, the isometric detrusor pressure generated is lower than during a mechanical occlusion, showing an intervention of the PDIR.…”

Incontinência Pós-Prostatectomia E Assistência De Enfermagem: Uma Revisão Integrativa

“…Tão importante como promover o treinamento muscular é buscar estratégias que possam permitir mensurar a força muscular. Nesse sentido, anos mais tarde, Robinson et al 16 , utilizaram o cronômetro UST no teste de interrupção do jato de urina. Ainda que preliminares, os resultados apontaram que o uso do cronômetro pode ser uma referência prática, econômica e promissora para a enfermagem na avaliação da evolução dos pacientes em PFMT.…”