1792 - Effect of Kegel exercises on prevention of urinary and fecal incontinence in patients with prostate cancer undergoing radiotherapy

Background

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common type of cancer among men. During radiotherapy (RT), some of the healthy tissues can be irradiated and side effects such as urinary (UI) and fecal incontinence (FI) may occur.

Methods

This non-randomized study was conducted to determine the effect of Kegel exercises on prevention of UI and FI in PC patients undergoing RT at the Gazi Hospital in the dates of 10.12.2016-03.01.2018. 60 patients were included in the study, 30 in the experimental and 30 in the control group. Data was collected with information form, CTCAE, EORTC QLQ-C30, REALM, weekly exercise follow-up schedule. The experimental group was provided individual training on Kegel exercises, training booklet was given, and patients were followed up weekly. Data collection forms were repeated before training, at the end of the first month and second month. No similar intervention was provided for the control group. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, Wilcoxon tests, variance analysis were used for the data analysis.

Results

Experimental and control groups were found to have been distributed homogeneously. At the end of first month, 10% of the experimental group and 13.3% of the control group had first grade UI. At the end of second month, only 1% of the control group had first grade UI, 3.3% of the experimental group and 6,7% of the control group had second grade UI. Besides, FI was not developed in both groups. It was found that social function of the EORTC QLQ-C30 increased in the experimental group. Additionally, diarrhea, insomnia, loss of appetite in the symptom sub-scale decreased in the same group. Improvement was observed in the overall health condition of the experimental group, whereas the control group was observed to be worse (p < 0,05).

Conclusions

Although Kegel exercises were not found effective, UI rate was lower in the experimental group. It has been recommended that Kegel exercises should be performed in larger groups with long-term observations.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Aydan Eda Urvaylıoğlu, Sevinç Kutlutürkan, Diclehan Kılıç.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.