Cora Plitt
Project: Creation of a health education resource for women with interstitial cystitis/female bladder pain syndrome — designed by them and for them
“I have found that if you ask almost any woman about pelvic or reproductive health, they will have a story to tell of dismissal, shame, invalidation or stigma. It is these stories that compel me to make change through research that ensures patient voices are heard.”
Summary: Female bladder pain syndrome (FBPS) is a long-lasting condition that affects up to seven per cent of women in the United States. Symptoms include bladder pain and the need to urinate often, which decreases quality of life and is associated with sleep issues, social isolation and anxiety. Health education can help to increase patient self-management and has been identified as a first-line treatment for FBPS. However, patients with FBPS have called out the lack of available resources.
Our goal is to create a health education resource designed specifically by and for women with FBPS. In the first phase of our project, we held focus groups with FBPS patients to learn what they want from an educational tool. This summer, the research team used that feedback and collaborated with patient partners to create the first drafts of an educational class. These drafts integrated both evidence-based information and lived experiences to be both reliable and relatable. In the final phase of the project, FBPS patients will further test, evaluate and refine the class.
By listening to patients at every step, we’re making sure these resources aren’t just accurate, but truly helpful and supportive.
Cora Plitt was supervised by Dr. Erin Kelly in the University of Alberta Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. This is her second WCHRI summer studentship, both funded by the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation. She is enrolled in the U of A’s doctor of medicine program.
Read more about WCHRI’s training awards for students at all levels and generous grants for researchers. See the rest of the 2026 summer studentship recipients here.
