Effectiveness of behavioral therapy to treat incontinence in homebound older adults

To examine the (1) short-term effectiveness of behavioral therapies in homebound older adults and (2) characteristics of responders and nonresponders to the therapies.

Prospective, controlled clinical trial with cross-over design.

Adults aged 60 and older with urinary incontinence and who met Health Care Financing Administration criteria for being homebound were referred to the study by homecare nurses from two large Medicare-approved home health agencies in a large metropolitan county in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Structured continence and medical history, OARS Physical and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scales, Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination Score, Clock Drawing Test, Geriatric Depression Scale, Performance-Based Toileting Assessment, bladder diaries, and physical examination.

One hundred five subjects were randomized to biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training (53 to the treatment group and 52 to the control groups). Control subjects with complete pre- and post-control data (n = 45) experienced a median 6.4% reduction in urinary accidents in contrast to a median 75.0% reduction in subjects with complete pre- and post-treatment data (n = 48, P < .001). Following the control phase, subjects crossed over to the treatment protocol. Eighty-five subjects completed treatment, achieving a median 73.9% reduction in UI. Exercise adherence was the most consistent predictor of responsiveness to the behavioral therapy.

Clinically significant reductions in urinary incontinence are achievable with behavioral therapies in many cognitively intact homebound older adults despite high levels of co-morbidity and functional impairment.