Promoting urinary continence with nonpharmacological interventions in Parkinson's disease

Background: The evidence of nonpharmacological interventions promoting urinary continence in Parkinson's disease is low and rehabilitation nurses do not give it a high priority. Aim: To examine the effects of a urinary incontinence management program on continence and quality of life in persons with Parkinson's disease in inpatient rehabilitation. The acceptance of the intervention and the knowledge of the nurses were also of interest. Methods: A nonrandomized experimental study was conducted. The data collection commenced with a control group followed by an intervention group. A structured urinary incontinence management was performed in the intervention phase. This includes incontinence assessment, care planning, individual interventions, discharge planning, and telephone support at home. Results: Urinary continence and quality of life were enhanced in both groups; however, improvements were higher in the intervention group but the differences were not significant. Knowledge of the nurses about urinary incontinence improved during the study duration. The acceptance of the intervention was high. Conclusions: A structured urinary continence management may improve urinary continence in persons suffering from Parkinson's disease. In clinical practice it is important to perform a detailed assessment to identify problems regarding urinary incontinence.