Experiences of prolapse, incontinence and mesh complication surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the lived experience of prolapse, incontinence and mesh complication surgery: a qualitative study.
IRAS ID
323441
Contact name
Georgina Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Beckett University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Aim: The aim of this study is to understand in-depth women’s experiences of surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP), stress urinary incontinence (SUI), or mesh complications.
Background: Different surgical treatments are available to treat POP and SUI. Some women living with POP and SUI had these health conditions corrected using ‘mesh’ (a synthetic material used to reinforce natural tissues in the pelvic floor) whilst other women had surgery without mesh. Some women who had mesh surgery had harmful effects on their quality of life which required further corrective surgery. This has negatively affected their experiences of using urogynaecology services and seeking treatment for these conditions. However, there is currently no surgery specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) that is available for these women to tell us about these harmful effects which our research will address.
Methods: To develop our new PROM, we will interview a minimum of 30 women who have undergone surgery for POP, SUI or mesh complications in the past. The focus of the interviews will be to understand the women’s lived experiences of surgery, what their preferences for a new PROM might be, and to identify any perceived barriers and facilitators to PROM use in the future. The interviews will take place online, by telephone or face-to-face based upon the participants wishes. They are expected to last around 60 to 90 minutes and will be audio-recorded with permission. The data will be analysed using framework analysis and the study findings used to generate the items for the new PROM.
Outputs: Our study findings will be shared across social media and mainstream media outlets using lay summaries, infographics and a YouTube video, at healthcare conferences, in leading academic journals and with relevant third sector parties such as the British Society of Urogynaecology, and Bladder and Bowel UK.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EM/0017
Date of REC Opinion
8 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion