State of Knowledge on the Specialized Management of Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Among General Practitioners in Western France in the Current Mesh Controversy Era

Pelvic floor disorders (PFD), including urinary incontinence (UI) and genitourinary prolapse (POP), are frequent pathologies that significantly impact patients' quality of life. In France, managing these disorders in primary care is vital, yet it is rarely evaluated in clinical research. To our knowledge, this is the first study in France to examine general practitioners' (GP) practices regarding all types of UI and GUP in the Brittany and Pays de la Loire regions.

This study is based on a collaboration between general medicine and urogynecology, combining a primary care perspective with specialized clinical expertise. Despite the modest response rate of 4.1%, the results reveal clear trends and practical solutions.
This study reveals the underutilization of clinical screening tools and a lack of awareness of nonsurgical and non-mesh surgical therapies. Conversely, general practitioners seem to have a better grasp of older drug therapies and tape-mediated surgical techniques, suggesting a potential lack of up-to-date training in primary care. The results also suggest that the Implants Files have a limited impact on real-life practices.

This study emphasizes the necessity of developing continuing education programs for general practitioners in France regarding PFD management. The study could serve as a foundation for guiding future health policies and training initiatives for GPs in France.

Written by: Antoine Cassé, Department of Family Medicine, University of Nantes, Nantes, France

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