Applying behavioral research to incontinence

Historically, treatment strategies for urinary incontinence (UI) have not been offered by primary care practitioners. This is despite the fact that prevalence for UI in women of all ages has been reported to be as high as 30 percent and that there are interventions, specifically behavioral treatments, that can be integrated in a primary care practice. However, most practitioners have not been trained in identification of UI, causes and approaches that can be incorporated into a successful treatment program. The authors have implemented a program to address the problem of UI. This article outlines their successful application of a behavioral therapy protocol in two diverse practices: gynecological and internal medicine.