Date of Graduation
Spring 2026
Document Type
Culminating Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
Committee Chairperson
Cheryl Schlamb DNP, CRNP
Committee Member
Jacquelyn Owens CDNP, CRNP, FNP-BC
Committee Member
Lily Arya, MS, MD
Abstract
Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence are the most common medical conditions for prescribing a vaginal pessary. Treating these conditions is vital to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Treatment options vary from surgical options to less invasive alternatives. Due to various reasons, a patient might opt to avoid surgical management which leaves a vaginal pessary as the next best treatment option. Barriers to pessary self-management are seen frequently and can reduce patient independence and compliance. This quality improvement project sought to answer the following research question: In women using vaginal pessaries for pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence, does incorporating dental floss as a removal aid improve ease of pessary removal and patient independence compared to traditional methods? The intervention significantly improved confidence, ease of removal, discomfort and satisfaction with many participants reporting greater confidence, easier removal, and less discomfort. Dental floss was a simple, low-cost intervention that improved pessary self-care and supported better adherence to use.
Final Version Confirmation
1
Recommended Citation
Haly, Stephanie, "A Pull Toward Independence: Improving Pessary Removal Ease and Patient Independence Using Dental Floss" (2026). West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects. 25.
https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_capstones/25