title: Continence for women: evidence-based practice.
abstract: Approximately 20% of women ages 25-64 years experience urinary incontinence. The symptoms increase during perimenopause, when 31% of women report that they experience incontinent episodes at least once per month. Bladder training and pelvic muscle exercise are the recommended initial treatment and can be taught effectively in the ambulatory care setting. Bladder training enables women to accommodate greater volumes of urine and extend between-voiding intervals. Pelvic muscle exercise increases muscle strength and reduces unwanted urine leakage. Accumulated research results provide evidence-based guidelines for nursing practice. The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses has identified continence for women as the focus of its third research utilization project. This article presents the rationale, evidence base, and educational strategies compiled by the Research Utilization 3 Nurse Scientist Team. Nurses can enable women to incorporate these noninvasive techniques into self-care.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor 48109-0482, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sampselle
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wyman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D017697:Premenopause; D012648:Self Care; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*