POPPY

Pelvic organ prolapse is common, affecting about a third of women who have had a baby, although the majority are asymptomatic. Despite the extent of the problem, there is little evidence on which to base best management.

The first POPPY study comprised a pilot of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of conservative (physical) treatments for women with early stage prolapse, a qualitative study concerning the effect of prolapse on women's health, and an economic study to assess and value women's preferences for treatment. This feasibility study devised robust methods and outcome measures to inform the design of an RCT amongst women with prolapse which has now started. POPPY is a joint study between HSRU and NMAHP, Glasgow Caledonian University.

The CSO funded the main POPPY RCT, which ran in 27 centres (including three in Australia and one in New Zealand) and has now finished: 448 women were randomised to an active physiotherapy intervention or lifestyles advice only. Follow up to one has been completed and the trial results have been published. The trial was presented at the ICS in Glasgow 2011, where it was awarded the prize for Best Clinical Abstract. It was published in the Lancet Online in November 2013.

Contacts

• Cathryn Glazener; c.glazener@abdn.ac.uk

Status

Publications

Hagen S, Stark D, Ramsay I, Glazener CM.  A feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial of a pelvic floor muscle training intervention for pelvic organ prolapse. Final grant report submitted to Chief Scientist Office.  University of Aberdeen: Health Services Research Unit; 2005.

Hagen S, Stark D, Sinclair L, Glazener CM, Ramsay I.  A feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial of a pelvic floor muscle training intervention for women with pelvic organ prolapse. International Continence Society, 36th Annual Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand, 27 November - 1 December 2006.

Hagen S, Sinclair L, Dall P, Glazener CM, Stark D.  Prevalence and characteristics of women with pelvic organ prolapse in a population of new general gynaecology outpatients. International Continence Society, 36th Annual Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand, 27 November - 1 December 2006.

Hagen S, Stark D, Glazener CM, Ramsay I, Sinclair L, Dall P.  A feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial of a pelvic floor muscle training intervention for pelvic organ prolapse. International Continence Society (UK), Annual Meeting, Norwich, 19-21 April 2006.

Hagen S, Stark D, Sinclair L, Glazener CM, Ramsay C.  A feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial of a pelvic floor muscle training intervention for women with pelvic organ prolapse. International Continence Society, 36th Annual Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand, 27 November - 1 December 2006.

Hagen S, Glazener CM, Sinclair L, Stark D, Bugge C. Psychometric properties of the POP-SS, a brief prolapse symptom score. International Continence Society, 38th Annual Meeting, Cairo, Egypt, 20-24 October 2008.

Hagen S, Stark D, Glazener C, Sinclair L, Ramsay I. A randomized controlled trial of pelvic floor muscle training for stages I and II pelvic organ prolapse. Int Urogynecol J 2009;20(1):45-51.

Hagen S, Glazener CM, Sinclair L, Stark D, Bugge C. Psychometric properties of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptom Score. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 2009;116(1):25-31.

Hagen S, Stark D, Glazener C, Sinclair L, Wilson D, Norrie J, Dickson S, McPherson G, Logan J, Frawley H, Moore K, Walker A.  A multicentre randomised controlled trial of a pelvic floor muscle training intervention for women with pelvic organ prolapse [abstract 129]. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2011;30(6):983-984

Oral Podium presentation at International Continence Society, 41st Annual Meeting, Glasgow, 29 August - 2 September 2011.

Prize for Best Clinical Abstract

Hagen S, Stark D, Glazener C, Dickson S, Barry S, Elders A, Frawley H, Galea MP, Logan J, McDonald A, McPherson G, Moore KH, Norrie J, Walker A, Wilson D. Individualised pelvic floor muscle training in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet online 28 November 2013.