Effect of a self-care program among women with urinary incontinence: A quasi-experimental study

Urinary incontinence is a multifactorial health problem that significantly affects women's quality of life. This quasi-experimental pre/post-test study aimed to evaluate the effect of a self-care program on women suffering from urinary incontinence. The study was conducted at the urodynamic unit within Ain Shams Maternity University Hospital, with a purposive sample of 100 women diagnosed with urinary incontinence, with no medical or surgical conditions, and who were not pregnant. A structured interview questionnaire and women's self-care practices checklists were used as study tools. The results showed that 72.0% of the study group and 68.0% of the control group were housewives. Significantly improved self-care practices and bladder retraining were observed in the study group compared to the control group post-intervention and during follow-up (p<0.001). Furthermore, the study group demonstrated a reduction in the severity of urinary incontinence and improved health practices, whereas the control group did not exhibit significant changes. These findings emphasize the significance of self-care programs in managing urinary incontinence and enhancing women's quality of life.