LAUSR

PURPOSE While LUTS and bladder behaviors are known to be associated with certain occupations, little is known about restroom access or environmental factors that may contribute to this relationship. This study aimed to characterize reasons women limit restroom use at work and to determine whether women who limit use at work report more unhealthy bladder habits and LUTS. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of full-time working U.S. women. Women completed validated questionnaires recording toileting behaviors, LUTS, and perceptions of their occupational toilet environment. Women who limited restroom use at work "most" or "all of the time" were compared to those who either did not limit or did so "occasionally" or "sometimes." RESULTS Of the 3,062 women in the final analytic sample, 11% reported limiting restroom use at work 'most' or 'all of the time'. This group reported lower satisfaction with restroom cleanliness and privacy, in particular, and more frequently identified toilet factors of poor quality, limited accessibility, and restricted use by employer. The prevalence of unhealthy bladder habits was significantly higher among women who limited restroom use, as was the prevalence of urgency, monthly urinary incontinence, and infrequent voiding. CONCLUSIONS In this cross-sectional study of women working full time, those who limit restroom use at work reported higher prevalence of unhealthy bladder habits and certain urinary disorders. Future studies should determine if limited restroom use at work is a modifiable risk factor for unhealthy bladder habits and bladder health outcomes.