Bridging the Gap: The Lived Experience of Women with Diastasis Recti Abdominis

Research output: Contribution to conferencePresentation

Abstract

<div class="line" id="line-10"> <u style="color: black;"> Title </u></div><div class="line" id="line-86"> <span style="color: black;"> Bridging the gap: The lived experience of women with Diastasis Recti Abdominis </span></div><div class="line" id="line-91"> <u style="color: black;"> &nbsp; </u></div><div class="line" id="line-96"> <u style="color: black;"> Purpose </u></div><div class="line" id="line-101"> <span style="color: black;"> Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) leads to a myriad of limitations in the physical and emotional well-being of women.&nbsp; Research has primarily focused on diagnostic tools and treatment. Consequently, there is an absence of evidence regarding the lived experience of women with DRA, the lack of interventions and accurate patient education. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of women with DRA. </span></div><div class="line" id="line-106"> <span style="color: black;"> &nbsp; </span></div><div class="line" id="line-111"> <u style="color: black;"> Subjects </u></div><div class="line" id="line-116"> Purposive sampling recruited female participants of any age with a self-reported or medical diagnosis of DRA. <span style="color: black;"> &nbsp;Participants (N=13, 31.3 years &plusmn;3.65) were 8 weeks to 3 years post-partum, and 26 (10 cesarean) reported births. </span></div><div class="line" id="line-120"> <span style="color: black;"> &nbsp; </span></div><div class="line" id="line-125"> <u style="color: black;"> Materials/Methods </u></div><div class="line" id="line-130"> <span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> Qualitative methodology with a basic interpretive approach and purposive sampling was used. </span> <span style="color: black;"> Participants contributed their experience through a semi-structured, in-depth interview. </span> <span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> Recruitment occurred </span> in a variety of settings including outpatient physical therapy practices, OB/GYN offices, online support groups for mothers/expecting mothers, and local colleges and universities. In person or online interviews were completed following verbal consent and audio was recorded. Transcribed audio recordings were used for coding and identification of overarching themes. Rigor and trustworthiness were enhanced using a variety of techniques.</div><div class="line" id="line-141"> <span style="color: black;"> &nbsp; </span></div><div class="line" id="line-146"> <u style="color: black;"> Results </u></div><div class="line" id="line-151"> <span style="color: black;"> Six predominant themes emerged: lack of education offered by clinicians, lack of patient knowledge, sources of self-education, impact of diagnosis, benefits of education, and problems with available education. Participants reported that lack of&nbsp;education limited their ability to self-identify associated signs and symptoms leading to negative impacts on body image, fear of future functional limitations, and an inability to seek appropriate treatment. Pursuit of alternative sources of knowledge resulted in inconsistent information leading to confusion and fear. Participants who received appropriate education reported an associated reduction in anxiety and increased drive to seek help with recovery. Participants also identified the need for education pre and postpartum. </span></div><div class="line" id="line-156"> <span style="color: black;"> &nbsp; </span></div><div class="line" id="line-161"> <u style="color: black;"> Conclusions </u></div><div class="line" id="line-166"> <span style="color: black;"> The need for education was a pivotal outcome with associated anxiety and fear ablated with the acquisition of appropriate education. &nbsp;Participants stated that receiving such education pre and postpartum would have a positive effect on body image and self-confidence. Further research should focus on specific components of education and ultimate outcomes. </span></div><div class="line" id="line-171"> <span style="color: black;"> &nbsp; </span></div><div class="line" id="line-176"> <u style="color: black;"> Clinical Relevance </u></div><div class="line" id="line-181"> The results highlight the need for effective targeted educational programs allowing women to make informed decisions. Allowing clinicians a look through the personal lens of affected women could provide the impetus to developing targeting education.</div><div class="line" id="line-183"> &nbsp;</div><div class="line" id="line-185"> <br/></div>
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - Feb 2021
EventAmerican Physical Therapy Association's Combined Sections Meeting -
Duration: Feb 1 2021 → …

Conference

ConferenceAmerican Physical Therapy Association's Combined Sections Meeting
Period2/1/21 → …

Keywords

  • post-partum
  • parity
  • qualitative research
  • diastasis recti

Disciplines

  • Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Rehabilitation and Therapy
  • Physical Therapy

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