Perceptions of urinary incontinence among elderly outpatients.

We examined the perceptions about urinary incontinence (UI) among 164 females and 35 males (mean age = 78.5) referred to an outpatient continence clinic. Between 60 and 76% of the patients felt that the UI was inconvenient, embarrassing, or distressing, and 37% indicated that it significantly interfered with their daily lives. Over half said they would consider surgery if necessary to correct the UI. Amount rather than frequency or duration of urinary loss was significantly associated with negative perceptions of the UI.