Effects of a Self-Efficacy Promotion Program for Management of Urinary Incontinence on the Degrees of Incontinence, Self-Efficacy and Quality of Life

요실금 관리 자기효능증진프로그램이 요실금 정도와 자기효능감 및 삶의 질에 미치는 효과

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a self-efficacy promotion program and to identify the effects of the program on degree of urinary incontinence, self-efficacy and quality of life in women with urinary incontinence. Method: The study used a pre-experimental design. Twenty participants were recruited from a nursing home located in Gwangju City and included residents, employees, and volunteer workers with urinary incontinence. Participants were surveyed from September 21 to November 2, 2005. The program treatment was provided to participants once a week for 6 weeks. Results: Frequency, amount, and situation scores for urinary incontinence, maximum and mean vaginal constriction pressure, vaginal constriction time, and nocturnal frequency were significantly improved after participating in the program (p<0.05). However, there was no significant pre- and posttest difference in frequency of daily urination (p=0.097). The degree of self-efficacy and quality of life for participants in the self-efficacy promotion program at posttest were significantly higher compared to the pretest scores (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that a self-efficacy promotion program can be implemented for women with urinary incontinence in community health centers or nursing homes in order to reduce their incontinence symptoms, and increase self-efficacy and quality of life.