Women’s Knowledge of Bladder Health: What We Have Learned in the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium

Purpose of Review The goal of this manuscript is to review the current literature on bladder health education, summarize P revention of L ower U rinary Tract S ymptoms (PLUS) findings on environmental factors that influence knowledge and beliefs about toileting and bladder function, and describe how PLUS work will contribute to improved understanding of women’s bladder-related knowledge and inform prevention intervention strategies. Recent Findings Analysis of focus group transcripts revealed the various ways women view, experience, and describe bladder function. In the absence of formal bladder health educational platforms, women appear to develop knowledge of normal and abnormal bladder function from a variety of social processes including environmental cues and interpersonal sources. Importantly, focus group participants expressed frustration with the absence of structured bladder education to inform knowledge and practices. Summary There is a lack of bladder health educational programming in the USA, and it is unknown to what degree women’s knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs influence their risk of developing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The PLUS Consortium RISE FOR HEALTH study will estimate the prevalence of bladder health in adult women and assess risk and protective factors. A Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs (KAB) questionnaire will be administered to determine KAB around bladder function, toileting, and bladder-related behaviors, and examine the relationship of KAB to bladder health and LUTS. The data generated from PLUS studies will identify opportunities for educational strategies to improve bladder health promotion and well-being across the life course.