Nursing management of stress urinary incontinence in women

Although urinary incontinence is not a subject spoken about in general conversation, it is a cause of concern for many people. Stress urinary incontinence is common, being reported by 16.8% of women (Hunskaar et al, 2002). In the past, women with stress urinary incontinence were often dismissed as having an inevitable problem resulting from childbirth and the hormonal changes associated with ageing. They were often made to feel that they just had to put up with the problem--this is no longer the case. Conservative therapy is advocated as the primary intervention for those suffering with stress urinary incontinence and nurses are ideally placed to be a source of information and help. Furthermore, nurses can develop their skills in order to encompass therapies to become more specialist and effective. In 2000, the Department of Health (DoH) issued guidance on establishing integrated continence services (DoH, 2000). This becomes mandatory for older people from April 2004 (DoH, 2001a).