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Correlations among measures of bladder function and comfort.
Thérèse Dowd1, Katherine Kolcaba, Richard Steiner
1College of Nursing, University of Akron, Mary Gladwin Hall, 209 Carroll Street, Akron, OH 44325-3701, USA. dowd@uakron.edu
Journal of Nursing Measurement
|June 7, 2002
Summary
This study evaluated comfort, urinary incontinence, and quality of life measures for compromised urinary bladder syndrome (CUBS). Findings support using these validated instruments to track patient improvement over time.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Psychometrics
- Nursing
Background:
- Standardized functional and psychosocial measurements are needed for compromised urinary bladder syndrome (CUBS).
- Kolcaba's Comfort Theory provides a framework for assessing patient well-being.
- Urinary incontinence (UI) significantly impacts quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the psychometric properties of 8 measures related to comfort, UI status, and quality of life in individuals with CUBS.
- To examine the relationships among these measures.
- To identify reliable instruments for detecting treatment-induced improvements.
Main Methods:
- A convenience sample of 47 individuals with UI for over 6 months was recruited.
- Data were collected twice, with a 2-week interval, using 1 comfort measure, 5 UI status measures, and 2 quality of life measures.
- Psychometric properties, including reliability, and variable relationships were analyzed.
Main Results:
- All 8 measures demonstrated adequate reliability.
- The study presents the relationships found among comfort, UI status, and quality of life variables.
- The findings provide empirical support for the chosen measurement tools.
Conclusions:
- The validated measures are suitable for assessing comfort, UI, and quality of life in CUBS patients.
- These instruments can effectively detect improvements following first-line interventions.
- The study recommends specific measures for longitudinal assessment in CUBS management.