The present aims of this study is to identify the knowledge of Brazilian physiotherapists concerning the use of pelvic floor muscle training for the prevention of urinary incontinence during pregnancy.

Women´s health physiotherapists, who assist pregnant women were invited to answered an online questionnaire (Google forms platform). All participants who consented to participate in the research agreed with the Free and Informed Consent Term.

Initially, the professionals answered a semi-structured questionnaire containing questions related to sociodemographic, academic and professional training characteristics. Then, the participants were asked to complete a questionnaire modified and adapted by Jette et al. [1], to assess knowledge about pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) during pregnancy and evidence-based practice (EBP). The answer to the items was accompanied by an ordinal scale, in which the response options were: Agree, Totally agree, Neither agree or disagree, Disagree and Totally Disagree [2].

This research is still ongoing, so we present in this study preliminary results of the data that have been collected until now. The analysis was performed using the SPSS program, version 21.0, and presented descriptively, in which the categorical variables will be presented in frequency and percentage.

The most of participants was women (97.6%), aged between 20 and 29 years (59.5%). However, 42.9% reported that completed the specialization course in physiotherapy in women's health. Regarding professional performance, 95.3% of respondents reported that work, predominantly, assisting physiotherapy patients in women's health.

We can note in our results that most physiotherapists totally agreed with the statements that EBP is applicable to clinical practice, influences and improves the quality of care for pregnant women, in addition to influencing clinical decision-making (Table 1). We should also note that most physiotherapists agreed or totally agreed that PFMT can prevent the development of SUI, UUI AND MUI at the end of pregnancy and late postpartum (Table 2).

Such results addressed in this study shows that the search for EBP by physiotherapists is a conduct that can impact the care of pregnant women with urinary symptoms.  This is in line with a 2017 Cochrane review, higher level of scientific evidence, which recommends PFMT to prevent and treat SUI during pregnancy and after childbirth and that pregnant women or mothers who already have symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) ) consult a trained specialist to prescribe PFMT [2].

In this perspective, the International Incontinence Society highlights the importance of the Physiotherapist specialized in Women's Health, for the evaluation of these women, as he is a health professional with skills and abilities that guarantee an adequate assessment of the pelvic floor in the treatment of UI, including the prescription of PFMT [3].

Such results suggest that Brazilian physiotherapists include EBP in their clinical practice and this professional attitude influences the understanding of the importance of the benefits of TMAP in the treatment and prevention of urinary incontinence, especially SUI, in pregnant and postpartum women.

Jette Diane U  et al. Evidence-Based Practice: Beliefs, Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behaviors of Physical Therapists [Internet]. 2003 [cited 2020 Mar 10]. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article-abstract/83/9/786/2805319
Woodley SJ, Boyle R, Cody JD, Mørkved S, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training for prevention and treatment of urinary and fecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2017(12). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007471.pub3
Bakker E, Shelly B, Esch FH, Frawley H, McClurg D, Meyers P. International Continence Society supported pelvic physiotherapy education guideline. Neurourol Urodyn. 2018;37(2):869-876. doi:10.1002/nau.23350