Care pathways for women with obstetric anal sphincter injury-related incontinence

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to identify existing care pathways for women suffering from incontinence due to obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) following vaginal delivery. It focuses on understanding how these patients are currently followed up and cared for, as many may not openly discuss their symptoms. The study highlights the importance of robust care pathways to ensure adequate support and management of these injuries, which can lead to significant physical and psychological complications. By improving care, the study also seeks to address the financial burden of litigation associated with inadequate management of such injuries.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Part 1 of Study

Inclusion Criteria:

* • Fertile women ≥ 18 years and ≤50 who have developed OASI related incontinence following a vaginal delivery in the preceding five years (N.B. the average age of menopause in the UK is 51)

  * Tertiary referrals to the specialist perineal clinic as well as patients who have 'slipped' through the existing pathway of referral
  * Capacity to consent (able to comprehend and retain information, weight out the risks and benefits and communicate a decision back to the researcher)
  * English-speaking and able to comprehend and read English
  * Primiparous/multi-parous

Exclusion Criteria:

* • Women who are unable to consent or who have severe mental illness, as decided by the screening clinician

  * Patients who do not speak, read or understand English
  * Patients with an alternative documented cause for their FI that is non obstetric trauma related.
  * Post-menopausal women who may develop late onset symptoms of incontinence relating to a previous OASI (clinically silent injuries that manifest in later life secondary to hormonal influences or advancing age for example).
  * Women with an OASI who have been referred directly from the maternity unit at the same trust as the specialist perineal clinic, where an existing trust policy exists for direct referral of these patients from the maternity unit to the perineal clinic.

Part 2 of study:

Inclusion criteria:

• urogynaecologists/obstetricians who oversee the care of or look after patients with OASI and who are practising in UK NHS hospitals at the time of completion of the survey. They must be on the GMC specialist register to be eligible to participate

Exclusion criteria:

• trainees, obstetricians/gynaecologists not routinely involved in the care of OASI patients.

Where it's running

• London Northwest Healthcare NHS Trust
  London, United Kingdom Recruiting

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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• Training delivery room staff to reduce postpartum anal incontinence

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• Physiotherapy and cold‑pack treatment for first-time mothers with perineal tears after vaginal delivery

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  Recruiting University of Southern Denmark · Aabenraa, Southern Denmark · NCT07104292

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.