[Do the incontinent patients improve their equality of life using a humidity detector device?].
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the effect of a humidity detector device on the quality of life of patients with urinary incontinence IU.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental study: a series of ten cases followed for a month. The devices were placed and the questionnaires filled in before and after using it for at least ten hours a day during a month. Health related quality of life was assessed through the questionnaires for IU convalidated and adapted to our specific environment: Urogenital Inventory Distress (UDI) and Incontinence Impact Questionary (IIQ). An improvement of 58 points by a four option Likert scale was considered a positive impact in the quality of life (IIQ). The scores obtained in UDI and IIQ are described before and after use the device and paried T test and Wilcoxon sign test were carried out to compare the scores obtained in each instance. The capacity to detect a difference of 58 points on the UDI scale was calculated (minimum relevant difference). A binomial test was undertaken to ascertain a probability of achieving an increase in the above mentioned index which would exceed the clinical relevance threshold.


RESULTS
Average increase in IIQ improvement: x = 5.48 (Std Error = 20.43) 95% CI = -34.56 to 45.56. Average increase in UDI improvement: x = -11.87 (Std Error = 20.70) 95% IC = -52.45 to 28.70. The power of the analysis to detect as relevant a difference of a 588 point increase in IIQ 71.1% and probability of obtaining a relevant improvement in the questionnaire IIQ 10% (IC 95%) 0% to 39.4%.


CONCLUSIONS
A negative impact in the Quality of Life due to frequent changes of incontinence pads.
Jauregui Abrisqueta
M L
ML
Unidad de Lesionados Medulares, Unidad de Atención Primaria de Leioa, Unidad de Investigación de Atención Primaria de Bizkaia, MF y C. Hospital de Cruces, Osakidetza/SVS, Barakaldo, Vizcaya.
Domingo Rico
C
C
Grandes
G
G
López Rodríguez
A M
AM
D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D016496:Incontinence Pads; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*