Christina Shaw1, Saima Rajabali1, Cara Tannenbaum2, Adrian Wagg3. 1. Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 1-198 Clinical Sciences Bldg, 11350 83 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P4, Canada. 2. Michel Saucier Chair of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada. 3. Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 1-198 Clinical Sciences Bldg, 11350 83 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P4, Canada. adrian.wagg@ualberta.ca.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Many women consider urinary incontinence (UI) a normal part of ageing. This belief may contribute to delays in treatment seeking. This study examined the relationship among holding that belief, UI type and severity, impact on quality of life, management and healthcare seeking in a sample of older community-dwelling Canadian women. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a controlled trial examining the impact of continence promotion workshops on UI self-management. All women who consented and provided baseline data were included in this analysis regardless of eligibility for the main study. RESULTS: The sample included 4446 women (2022 with UI) of mean (SD) age 78.2 (9.0) years and BMI 26.6 (5.6). The belief that UI is normal for ageing was held by 2149 women [48.3% (83.7% of 1798 incontinent women)] and was not associated with age [adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% CI): 1.00 (0.99, 1.01), p = 0.72] or perception of overall health. Women with this belief had more impaired QoL compared with the women who felt UI was not normal for ageing [mean (SD) 83.9 (19.4) vs. 87.4 (18.6) (p < 0.01)]. This belief remained unaffected by daily UI and pad use up to 2/day. CONCLUSIONS: More than two-thirds of women thought UI normal for ageing. This belief was not associated with age or perception of overall health. More severe incontinence and greater quantities of pad use did not make women less likely to hold this belief.
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Many women consider urinary incontinence (UI) a normal part of ageing. This belief may contribute to delays in treatment seeking. This study examined the relationship among holding that belief, UI type and severity, impact on quality of life, management and healthcare seeking in a sample of older community-dwelling Canadian women. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a controlled trial examining the impact of continence promotion workshops on UI self-management. All women who consented and provided baseline data were included in this analysis regardless of eligibility for the main study. RESULTS: The sample included 4446 women (2022 with UI) of mean (SD) age 78.2 (9.0) years and BMI 26.6 (5.6). The belief that UI is normal for ageing was held by 2149 women [48.3% (83.7% of 1798 incontinent women)] and was not associated with age [adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% CI): 1.00 (0.99, 1.01), p = 0.72] or perception of overall health. Women with this belief had more impaired QoL compared with the women who felt UI was not normal for ageing [mean (SD) 83.9 (19.4) vs. 87.4 (18.6) (p < 0.01)]. This belief remained unaffected by daily UI and pad use up to 2/day. CONCLUSIONS: More than two-thirds of women thought UI normal for ageing. This belief was not associated with age or perception of overall health. More severe incontinence and greater quantities of pad use did not make women less likely to hold this belief.
Entities:
Keywords:
Age; Community dwelling; Healthcare seeking; Quality of life; Urinary incontinence