Outcomes of a small group educational intervention for urinary incontinence: episodes of incontinence and other urinary symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
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 or wait 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. There was a reduction in frequency of daily, but not nocturnal, micturition.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
McFall
S L
SL
Department of Health Promotion Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA.
Yerkes
A M
AM
Cowan
L D
LD
D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology