J Korean Acad Adult Nurs.  1998 Apr;10(1):15-31.

The Incidence of Urinary Incontinence and influences on quality of life among elderly Women

• Choi YH
• Baik SH

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence of urinary incontinence of elderly women in Korea, to identify the life style for urinary incontinence. The sample consisted of 237 women of Seoul and 5 Provinces. Data for this study was collected from January 16 to June 23 by structured questionnaire. Urinary Symptom Questionnaire developed by Jackson and demographic questionnaire were used to collect the data. The data was analyzed by frequency, percentage, Chi-Square test, Chronbach alpha coefficient with SPSS/PC+ program. 1. It was reported that 64.5% of the subjects have experienced urinary incontinence. And stress, urge, and mixed type incontinence was 34.0%, 8.5%, 57.5% respectively. 2. Characteristics related to urinary incontinence are : Daily frequency 28.7%, nocturia 71.5%, urgency 74.0%, bladder pain 36.7%, unexplained incontinence 35.1%, noctural incontinence 23.5%, frequency of incontinence 23.3%. Wearing protection 42.3%, changing outer clothing 31.0%, hesitancy 17.1%, straining 24.7%, intermittent stream 27.2%, abnormal strength of stream 28.4%, retention 13.6%, burning 5.0%, incomplete emptying 13.6%, Inability to stop mid stream 32.5%. 3. The life style and incidence with urinary incontinence were as following. Fluid intake restriction 18.6%, interference in daily task 30.3%, avoidance of places and situation 28.0%, interference in physical activity 22.3%, interference in relationship with other people 16.6%, interference in relationship with husband/companion 4.5%, time after attack of urinary symptoms 81.5%. In terms of the feeling about the rest of life with urinary symptom, perfectly happy 5.0%, pleased 10.6%, mostly satisfied 18.7%, mixed feelings 28.6%, mostly dissatisfied 20.1%, very unhappy 16.8%, desperate 0.3%. 4. Significant relation between incidence of urinary incontinence and life style. Significant differences between Fluid intake restriction(X2=8.876, P=0.002), affected daily task(X2=32.113, P0.000), avoidance of places and situation(X2=30.155, P=0.000), interference in physical activity(X2=30.209, P=0.000), interference in relationship with other people(X2=26.091, P=0.000). In terms of the feeling about the rest of life with urinary symptom(X2=43.425, P=0.000) of life style and incidence of urinary incontinence. In conclusion, this study were preliminary study to provide nursing practices guidelines for elderly urinary incontinence. Nurses working with elderly should develop and provide adequate care for the incontinent elderly subjects.

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Burns
Clothing
Female
Humans
Incidence*
Korea
Life Style
Motor Activity
Nocturia
Nursing
Quality of Life*
Rivers
Seoul
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Incontinence*
Surveys and Questionnaires