Verbal instruction to obtain voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction: Acceptability, and understanding

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe verbal instructions used to obtain a voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction and to evaluate their understanding and acceptability.

Methods: This prospective study led in two phases. A questionnaire was submitted to experts to collect the most frequently used instructions to obtain a PFMC. Then a questionnaire was submitted to subjects in order to: estimate the pelvic floor anatomical knowledge; estimate understanding and acceptability of these instructions; select the best instruction.

Results: First phase: 46 experts proposed 356 instructions. Forty-four percent were functional instructions ("hold a gas"), 40% anatomical ("squeeze your anus") and 16% allied both. Fifteen instructions for the women and 11 for the men were selected. Second phase: 33 subjects completed the questionnaire. More than 75% had correct answers for anatomical knowledge. The instructions judged by the subjects as the most adapted to obtain a PFMC were: "contract the anus", "do as if you wanted to hold a strong desire to void". The items including "perineum" or "vagina" were less understood.

Conclusions: The more understandable and acceptable instruction to assess the PFMC is the association of two simple instructions: one anatomical and one functional.

Level of evidence: 4.

Keywords: Acceptability; Acceptabilité; Assessment; Compréhension; Instruction; Muscles du plancher pelvien; Pelvic floor muscle; Understanding; Évaluation.