Preferences for involvement in treatment decision-making among Norwegian women with urinary incontinence

Background. Current health policies advocate patient participation in treatment decision-making. Objective. To explore whether role preferences among women with urinary incontinence (UI) change depending on the treatment decision-making context. We also explore what factors are associated with role preferences and changes in role preferences. Methods. A national telephone survey of 265 women with UI identified from 1,000 randomly selected Norwegian women aged 18 or over. The interview included questions on socioeconomic factors, general health status, UI-related factors, and role preferences. Women were categorised as preferring an 'active', 'collaborative', or 'passive' role in treatment decision-making based on their selection of a response from the Control Preferences Scale. Results. Women's preferences changed significantly when considering UI treatment decision-making compared to treatment decision-making generally (p < 0.001). A total of 60% preferred an active role in UI treatment decisions compared to 38% when considering treatment decision-making generally. Multivariable analyses found that higher education was significantly associated with preferring an active role in general treatment decision-making. For UI treatment decision-making, women aged 60 or over and those who were married or had a partner were less likely to prefer an active compared to a collaborative role. Conclusions. Women with UI prefer a more active role when considering UI treatment decision-making compared to treatment decision-making generally. Factors associated with role preferences vary depending on the decision-making context, with older women and those who were married or had a partner more likely to prefer an active role when considering UI treatment decision-making.