Effects of Electrical Stimulation, Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise, and Biofeedback Program on Improving Pelvic Floor Function and Quality of Life in Postoperative Patients with Early-Stage Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Pelvic floor muscle exercise (PME), biofeedback, and electrical stimulation improve pelvic floor function, but the effect of their combination in patients with early-stage cervical cancer is unclear. This study intended to design a combined intervention encompassing these three interventions and explore its effect on pelvic floor function in postoperative patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Totally, 177 postoperative patients with early-stage cervical cancer were assigned to combination (N = 81) and PME (N = 96) groups according to actual interventions. Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-Short Form 20 (PFDI-20), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF), and EORTC Core Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) scores were assessed at the seventh day after surgery (W0), and at 4 (W4), 8 (W8), and 12 (W12) weeks after W0. PFDI-20 scores at W8 (P = 0.042) and W12 (P = 0.006), and ICIQ-UI-SF scores at W4 (P = 0.012), W8 (P = 0.024), and W12 (P = 0.003) were lower in the combination group versus PME group. PFDI-20 decline and ICIQ-UI-SF decline (W0-W12) were greater in the combination group versus PME group (both P = 0.007). Combined intervention (versus PME) was independently related to greater PFDI-20 decline (B = 5.548, P < 0.001) and ICIQ-UI-SF decline (W0-W12) (B = 1.544, P = 0.006). EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status scores at W12 were higher in the combination group versus PME group (P = 0.045), while EORTC QLQ-C30 function and symptom scores at any time points were not different between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Combined intervention achieves greater pelvic floor function improvement and better quality of life compared to PME in postoperative patients with early-stage cervical cancer.