Development of an animated model to improve patients' understanding of pelvic floor exercises prior to radical prostatectomy.

Abstract

The prevalence of reported urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy varies widely (2% to 60%), albeit at varying times after operation. The majority of men will experience some level of urinary incontinence in the first few months post treatment. Some recent research has shown that patients who correctly perform pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) have a better rate of returning to urinary continence post radical prostatectomy. However one study found that 30% of healthy males had difficulty performing PFME correctly. The aim of this project was to develop an animated pelvic floor model, for use in the education of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.