International Journal of Nursing Sciences (Mar 2015)

The effect of a urinary incontinence self-management program for older women in South Korea: A pilot study

  • Jennie C. De Gagne,
  • Aeyoung So,
  • Bei Wu,
  • Mary H. Palmer,
  • Eleanor S. McConnell

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2015.01.002
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 1
pp. 39 – 46

Abstract

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Background: Although self-management approaches have shown strong evidence of positive outcomes for urinary incontinence prevention and management, few programs have been developed for Korean rural communities. Objectives: This pilot study aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a urinary incontinence self-management program for community-dwelling women aged 55 and older with urinary incontinence in rural South Korea. Methods: This study used a one-group pre- post-test design to measure the effects of the intervention using standardized urinary incontinence symptom, knowledge, and attitude measures. Seventeen community-dwelling older women completed weekly 90-min group sessions for 5 weeks. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests and were used to analyze data. Results: The mean of the overall interference on daily life from urine leakage (pre-test: M = 5.76 ± 2.68, post-test: M = 2.29 ± 1.93, t = −4.609, p < 0.001) and the sum of International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire scores (pre-test: M = 11.59 ± 3.00, post-test: M = 5.29 ± 3.02, t = −5.881, p < 0.001) indicated significant improvement after the intervention. Improvement was also noted on the mean knowledge (pre-test: M = 19.07 ± 3.34, post-test: M = 23.15 ± 2.60, t = 7.550, p < 0.001) and attitude scores (pre-test: M = 2.64 ± 0.19, post-test: M = 3.08 ± 0.41, t = 5.150, p < 0.001). Weekly assignments were completed 82.4% of the time. Participants showed a high satisfaction level (M = 26.82 ± 1.74, range 22–28) with the group program. Conclusions: Implementation of a urinary incontinence self-management program was accompanied by improved outcomes for Korean older women living in rural communities who have scarce resources for urinary incontinence management and treatment. Urinary incontinence self-management education approaches have potential for widespread implementation in nursing practice.

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