An overview of urinary incontinence in adults: assessments and behavioral interventions

Urinary incontinence affects millions of Americans. Often the goal of treatment is to improve the condition, prevent complications and provide comfort. Behavioral interventions can improve the condition in 54-75% of patients with urge and/or stress incontinence and can cure 12-16% of patients. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are in a unique position of both providing direct care to patients who experience these problems and educating other nurses about signs, symptoms and appropriate nursing interventions for urinary incontinence. The scope of the problem, costs of urinary incontinence and potential cost savings with treatment are discussed in this article. Acute and chronic urinary incontinence and the necessary assessments to be performed by the APN are reviewed. Bladder training, habit training, prompted voiding and pelvic muscle exercises are the behavioral interventions used with urinary incontinence. Adjunct therapy, including biofeedback, vaginal cones and electrical stimulation, also is discussed.