OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a low-intensity behavioral therapy program on urinary incontinence in older women. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial for community-dwelling women at least 55 years reporting at least one urinary incontinent episode per week was conducted. Women were randomly assigned to a behavioral therapy group (n = 77) or a control group (n = 75). The treatment group had six weekly instructional sessions on bladder training and followed individualized voiding schedules. The control group received no instruction but kept urinary diaries for 6 weeks. After this period, the control group underwent the behavioral therapy protocol. Using per-protocol analyses, t and chi(2) tests were used to compare the treatment and control groups, and paired t tests were used to evaluate the efficacy of behavioral therapy for all women (treatment and control groups before and after behavioral therapy). RESULTS: Women in the treatment group experienced a 50% reduction in mean number of incontinent episodes recorded on a 7-day urinary diary compared with a 15% reduction for controls (P =.001). After behavioral therapy, all women had a 40% decrease in mean weekly incontinent episodes (P =.001), which was maintained over 6 months (P <.004). Thirty (31%) women were 100% improved (dry), 40 (41%) were at least 75% improved, and 50 (52%) at least 50% improved. There were no differences in treatment efficacy by type of incontinence (stress, urge, mixed) or group assignment (treatment, control). CONCLUSION: A low-intensity behavioral therapy intervention for urinary incontinence was effective and should be considered as a first-line treatment for urinary incontinence in older women.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a low-intensity behavioral therapy program on urinary incontinence in older women. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial for community-dwelling women at least 55 years reporting at least one urinary incontinent episode per week was conducted. Women were randomly assigned to a behavioral therapy group (n = 77) or a control group (n = 75). The treatment group had six weekly instructional sessions on bladder training and followed individualized voiding schedules. The control group received no instruction but kept urinary diaries for 6 weeks. After this period, the control group underwent the behavioral therapy protocol. Using per-protocol analyses, t and chi(2) tests were used to compare the treatment and control groups, and paired t tests were used to evaluate the efficacy of behavioral therapy for all women (treatment and control groups before and after behavioral therapy). RESULTS:Women in the treatment group experienced a 50% reduction in mean number of incontinent episodes recorded on a 7-day urinary diary compared with a 15% reduction for controls (P =.001). After behavioral therapy, all women had a 40% decrease in mean weekly incontinent episodes (P =.001), which was maintained over 6 months (P <.004). Thirty (31%) women were 100% improved (dry), 40 (41%) were at least 75% improved, and 50 (52%) at least 50% improved. There were no differences in treatment efficacy by type of incontinence (stress, urge, mixed) or group assignment (treatment, control). CONCLUSION: A low-intensity behavioral therapy intervention for urinary incontinence was effective and should be considered as a first-line treatment for urinary incontinence in older women.
Authors: Holly E Richter; Kathryn L Burgio; Toby C Chai; Stephen R Kraus; Yan Xu; Lee Nyberg; Linda Brubaker Journal: Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct Date: 2009-01-30
Authors: Ananias C Diokno; Manuel S Ocampo; Ibrahim A Ibrahim; Cindy R Karl; Michelle J Lajiness; Susan A Hall Journal: Int Urol Nephrol Date: 2009-08-22 Impact factor: 2.370
Authors: Scott A Farrell; Alfred Bent; Baharak Amir-Khalkhali; David Rittenberg; Art Zilbert; Karen D Farrell; Colleen O'Connell; Cora Fanning Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2012-09-01 Impact factor: 2.894