A retrospective postal survey of women’s experiences of physiotherapy management following a third- or fourth-degree perineal tear

Author(s): A. Johnson & A. P. Rochester - Pages: 25–35

Abstract

Physiotherapy involvement with women who experience third- or fourth-degree tears has developed in response to local needs, often without consideration of the evidence base. A validated Manchester Health Questionnaire and a locally developed questionnaire specific to physiotherapy were used to investigate whether physiotherapy affected the incidence of anal and urinary incontinence. The study also sought to establish whether women found physiotherapy to be of benefit. An initial invitation to participate in the study was sent to 154 women, generating a response rate of 42% (n = 65). Fifty-eight out of the 65 individualswho had agreed to take part returned the anonymous retrospective postal questionnaires (response rate=89%). The results were inconclusive and further work is recommended. The project was carried out as part of a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Studies at the University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.

Keywords: perineal tears, physiotherapy, questionnaires.