The importance of screening, assessing, and managing urinary incontinence in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
To present evidence that routine screening for urinary incontinence is justified because it is a clinically relevant and prevalent disorder that responds to treatment, resulting in improved outcomes for many patients managed by the nurse practitioner (NP).


METHODS
Selected scientific literature.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of urinary incontinence and success of treatment options justify routine screening, individualized assessment, and treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine screening for urinary incontinence by NPs is uncommon. Based on the relative risk, the potential success of treatment and improved quality-of-life outcomes after treatment, NPs should regularly screen and assess for incontinence.
Gray
Mikel
M
Department of Urology, University of Virginia, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. mg5k@virginia.edu
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*