title: Urinary incontinence (UI) and quality of life (QoL) of the elderly residing in residential homes in Turkey.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate urinary incontinence (UI) and its effect on the quality of life (QoL) of older people dwelling in residential homes in Turkey. A cross-sectional study was applied in residential homes. A total of 1110 people older than 60 years residing in five selected residential homes were studied. An interview was conducted with the residents who had sufficient cognitive function and agreed to participate. The QoL and the mental and the functional state of the residents were analyzed using the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Rankin Scale, respectively: Of the total pool, 694 residents were included in the study of which 56.48% (n=392) were female and 43.52% (n=302) were male. UI was present in 170 women and 63 men. Pad usage was more common in women (88%) than that in men (29.1%). The QoL subdimensions showed that women had higher scores than men. Urge UI (UUI) had more impact on the QoL than that on functional, mixed or stress incontinence. We concluded that UI negatively affects the QoL of older people living in residential homes. In particular, women and patients suffering from UUI are more severely affected.
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Florence Nightingale Hemsirelik Yuksekokulu, Abide-i Hurriyet cad., 34381 Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: ergul34tr@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ergul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Florence Nightingale Hemsirelik Yuksekokulu, Abide-i Hurriyet cad., 34381 Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nezihe Kizilkaya
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Beji
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 34390 Capa, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Habibe Ayyildiz
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Erkan
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 34390 Capa, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Onay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 34390 Capa, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gungor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D014421:Turkey; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress; D053202:Urinary Incontinence, Urge