Postal questionnaire data collection pilot study - APPEAL pilot study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Postal questionnaire data collection pilot study: Antenatal Preventative Pelvic Floor Exercises and Localisation (APPEAL) programme
IRAS ID
241699
Contact name
Sara Webb
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham Women's & Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 28 days
Research summary
Pregnancy and childbirth are important risk factors for Urinary Incontinence (UI) in women. Between two-thirds to three-quarters of women may still experience UI symptoms 12 years after childbirth. Incontinence places a large burden on women’s health and impacts on physical, mental and social quality of life with associated pressure on NHS resources.
This postal questionnaire data collection pilot study is being undertaken as part of a five year NIHR funded Antenatal Preventative Pelvic Floor Exercises and Localisation (APPEAL) programme that aims to prevent childbirth-related UI by increasing the number of women doing pelvic floor muscle exercises during pregnancy. This pilot study is necessary to try-out two postal questionnaire data collection methods in order to provide estimates for UI rates and find the postal method that optimises response rates that can then be used in the subsequent trial.
This study will involve 800 eligible women who have given birth in a defined period from each community midwife team from three NHS Trusts who will be randomised into two groups, [1] to receive the questionnaire in one document, or [2] to receive the questionnaire split over two postings. The questionnaire will contain questions about bladder and bowel incontinence, pelvic floor muscle exercises and quality of life at 10-12 weeks postnatal that are needed for the planned subsequent trial. The questions asked are similar to those discussed during routine antenatal appointments that the women will have attended during their pregnancy. An accompanying cover letter will explain the research and state that completion and return of the questionnaire will also give permission to the researchers to read their hospital notes and collect relevant information about their labour and birth.
Data will be collected from the completed questionnaires. Additional data will be found via review of the labour and delivery records of the study participants.REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0934
Date of REC Opinion
18 May 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion