Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians regarding urinary incontinence in persons aged > or = 65 years--Massachusetts and Oklahoma, 1993.

Urinary incontinence (UI)--the involuntary loss of urine sufficient to be a problem for the patient or caregivers--affects an estimated 15%-30% of persons aged > or = 60 years in the United States and is a major cause of admittance to nursing homes. UI may be associated with a variety of medical (e.g., rashes, skin infections, pressure sores, urinary tract infections, and falls) and psychosocial problems (e.g., depression, embarrassment, restricted social interaction, reduced activities outside the home, reduced sexual activity, and sleep disturbances). Despite the dissemination of clinical practice guidelines for UI by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), many physicians do not know how to diagnose or treat UI. Beginning in 1992, CDC and AHCPR funded demonstration projects in Massachusetts and Oklahoma to educate the public, patients, and health-care professionals about UI. In both projects, physicians were assessed regarding baseline attitudes toward UI, knowledge of the causes and treatment of UI, preparedness to evaluate and treat UI, and current practices regarding UI. This report summarizes findings from the two projects during 1993.