Assessment and management of urinary incontinence among homebound older adults: a clinical trial protocol

Abstract

Urinary incontinence is a common and costly problem among homebound older adults. This article describes the assessment and management protocols utilized in a clinical trial examining the effectiveness of behavioral interventions in treating urinary incontinence in homebound older adults. Individuals with urinary incontinence were identified and referred to the study by home care nurses from two large home health agencies. Following in-home assessment, eligible subjects were randomized to an immediate treatment group or a delayed treatment group (control group). Subjects who were cognitively intact were treated with biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training, while subjects with cognitive impairments were treated with a program of prompted voiding. Two nurse practitioners assessed and treated subjects participating in the study.