Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Objectives:This community-based intervention to reduce urinary incontinence (UI) in elderly women used a small group educational approach. This article reports on change in episodes of incontinence and other urinary symptoms. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to intervention orwait control condition. This article is restricted to 49 intervention and 59 control participants with acceptable diaries. Results:There was a significant treatment effect for a number of incontinent episodes. In the intervention group, 61% had a 50% or greater reduction in episodes, with more than one third having 100% reduction; 38% of the control group had a reduction of 50% or greater. One year postprogram, 75% of treated women reported subjective improvement. Therewas a reduction in frequency of daily, but not nocturnal, micturition. Discussion:This community-based intervention is an encouraging option for behavioral treatment of UI. Public health models may be particularly appropriate with moderate levels of urinary incontinence.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Baranowski, T. , Perry, C. L. , & Parcel, G. S. (1997). How individuals, environments, and health behavior interact: Social cognitive theory. In K. Glanz , F. M. Lewis , & B. K. Rimer (Eds.), Health behavior and health education(2nd ed., pp. 153-178). San Francisco: Jossey Bass.

Barker, J. C. ,& Mitteness, L. S. (1988). Nocturia in the elderly. The Gerontologist, 28, 99-104.

Burgio, K. L. , Ives, D. G. , Locher, J. L. , Arena, V. C. ,& Kuller, L. H. (1994). Treatment seeking for urinary incontinence in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 42, 208-212.

Diokno, A. , & Yuhico, M. (1995). Preference, compliance, and initial outcome of therapeutic options chosen by female patients with urinary incontinence. Journal of Urology, 15, 1727-1730.

Dougherty, M. , Bishop, K. , Mooney, R. , Gimotty, P. ,& Williams, B. (1993). Graded pelvic muscle exercise: Effect on stress urinary incontinence. Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 39, 684-691.

Fantl, J. A. , Newman, D. K. , Colling J. (1996). Urinary incontinence in adults: Acute and chronic management. Clinical Practice Guideline, No. 2, 1996 Update. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. AHCPR Pub. No. 96-0682.

Fantl, J. A. , Wyman, J. F. , McClish, D. K. , Harkins, S. W. , Elswick, R. K. , Taylor, J. R. ,& Hadley, E. C. (1991). Efficacy of bladder training in older women with urinary incontinence. JAMA, 265, 609-613.

Flay, B. (1987). Evaluation of the development, dissemination and effectiveness of mass media health programming. Health Education Research, 2, 123-130.

10.

Fulton, J. P. , Katz, S. S. , & Hendershot, G. E. (1989). Physical functioning of the aged. Vital Health Statistics, 167(10), 1-48.

11.

Herzog, A. R. , & Fultz, N. H. (1990). Prevalence and incidence of urinary incontinence in community-dwelling populations. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 38, 273-281.

12.

Lagace, E. A. , Hansen, W. , & Hickner, J. M. (1993). Prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence in ambulatory adults: An UPRNET study. Journal of Family Practice, 36, 610-614.

13.

McFall, S. L. ,& Yerkes, A. M. (1998). Targets, messages, and channels for educational interventions on urinary incontinence. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 17, 403-418.

14.

McFall, S. L. , Yerkes, A. M. , Belzer, J. A. , & Cowan, L. D. (1994). Urinary incontinence and quality of life in olderwomen: Acommunity demonstration in Oklahoma. Family and Community Health, 17, 64-75.

15.

McFall, S. L. , Yerkes, A. M. , & Cowan, L. D. (2000). Outcomes of a small group educational intervention for urinary incontinence: Health-related quality of life. Journal of Health and Aging.

16.

National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference . (1990). Urinary incontinence in adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 38, 265-272.

17.

Sampselle, C. M. , Burns, P. A. , Dougherty, M. C. , Newman, D. K. , Thomas, K. K. ,& Wyman, J. F. (1997). Continence for women: Evidence-based practice. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 26, 375-385.

18.

Siu, A. L. , Beers, M. H. , & Morgenstern, H. (1993). The geriatric “medical and public health” imperative revisited. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 41, 78-84.

19.

Urinary Incontinence Guideline Panel . 1992. Urinary incontinence in adults: Clinical practice guideline.AHCPR Pub. No. 92-0038. Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

20.

Wells, T. , Brink, C. , Diokno, A. , Wolfe, R. ,& Gillis, G. (1991). Pelvic muscle exercise for stress urinary incontinence in elderly women. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 39, 785-791.

21.

Wyman, J. F. , Choi, S. C. , Harkins, S. W. , Wilson, M. S. ,& Fantl, J. A. (1988). The urinary diary in evaluation of incontinent women: A test-retest analysis. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 71, 812-817.

Outcomes of a Small Group Educational Intervention for Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References