Attitudes toward urinary incontinence among community nurses and community-dwelling older people

The purpose of this study was to describe attitudes toward urinary incontinence among nurses and community-dwelling older people.

Random samples of 100 community-dwelling persons older than 60 years and 100 nurses practicing in community health service centers were invited to participate in the study set in Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to gather self-report data for this study.

The UI Attitude Scale (UIAS) was used to measure attitudes toward UI.

The response rate was 100% for all groups. Most respondents indicated that family support was important in dealing with UI (98% nurses, 83% older people), and UI is preventable (63% nurses, 56% older people). Nurses were more likely to perceive that UI can be effectively treated (92% vs 76% older people, P = .002), managed (91% vs 76% older people, P = .004) and hinders social interactions (88% vs 73% older people, P = .007) than community-dwelling adults. Older persons were more likely to perceive UI as shameful (32% vs 6% nurses, P = .000), their own fault (44% vs 4% nurse, P = .000), and frustrating to be taken care of (54% vs 15% nurses, P = .000). Older persons with UI were more unwilling to talk about incontinence(45% vs 17% nurses, P .000), and more often considered UI not serious enough to warrant treatment (29% vs 2% nurses, P = .000).

The findings indicated a greater need for community education program on UI among community nurses and older people in China. Strategies to alter attitudes toward UI should be explored.