The effect of pelvic floor muscle exercises on genuine stress incontinence among Korean women--focusing on its effects on the quality of life

This study's purpose was to compare the treatment efficacy and the effects on the patients' quality of life of the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercise and the functional electrical stimulation (FES)-biofeedback method. Ninety female incontinence patients were randomly selected and evenly divided into three groups: control, intensive PFM exercise, and FES-biofeedback groups. They were treated for 6 weeks. The subjective changes in the severity of incontinence and discomfort in daily and social life were measured using a translated version of Jackson's Bristol female urinary symptom questionnaire. Objective changes of pelvic muscle contraction force were measured by perineometer. Pre and post-treatment maximal pelvic floor muscle contractile pressure (PMC pressure) among the three groups showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001). Especially the FES-biofeedback group showed significantly increased maximal PMC pressure compared with other groups (p < 0.001). From the questionnaire, pre and post-treatment changes in the severity of urinary incontinence and discomfort due to incontinence showed significant differences among the three groups (p < 0.001). The level of discomfort in daily life, social activity, physical activity, personal relations and discomfort due to urinary symptoms had largely changed and the FES-biofeedback group, in particular, showed a significant decrease after treatment. In conclusion, when PFM exercise and FES-biofeedback were compared in terms of their effects on the patients' quality of life, FES-biofeedback proved to be more effective than verbal explanation or simple PFM exercise.

A Study on urinary Incontinence of Adult Women: Preliminary Study / 간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence of urinary incontinence in adult women and to identify factors related to life style and sexual intercourse that were related to incontinence. The sample consisted of 1,065 women living in Seoul or one of five provinces. Data for this study were collected from January 16 to June 23 using structured questionnaires. The Urinary Symptom Questionnaire developed by Jackson and a demographic questionnaire were used to collect the data. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage with and SPSS/PC+ program. The major finding are as follows : 1. The distribution of age of subjects was as follows : 20-29(10.1%), 30-39(17.8%), 40-49(27.3%), 50-59(22.3%), 60-69(12.9%), 70-79(6.1%), 80-89(2.8%), more than 90(0.6%). The frequency of normal delivery, 0(15.5%), 1-2(36.0%), 3-4(29.2%), 5-6(13.0%), more than 7(6.3%). The rate of subjects with menopause was 40.8%. 2. It was reported that 50.7% of the subjects experienced urinary incontinence with stress, mixed, and urgency incontinence being 49.8%, 43.4%, 6.8% respectively. 3. The lower urinary symptoms and incidence with urinary incontinence were as follows : Daily frequency, 22.3%, nocturia, 40.8%, urgency, 71.2%, bladder pain, 47.8%, unexplained incontinence, 32.4%, nocturnal incontinence, 16.1%, and frequency of incontinence, 37.7%. In term of quantity of incontinence, drop/pants damp, 29.5%, dribble/pants wet, 20.5%, flood or soaking through to outer clothing, 1.7%, and flood or running down legs or onto floor, 0.2%. 4. The symptoms related to sexual intercourse and incidence of urinary incontinence were as follows : dry vagina, 39.1%, sex life trouble, 10.8%, pain during sexual intercourse, 27.4%, and urine leakage during sexual intercourse, 8.8%. 5. Life style problems related to urinary incontinence were as follows ; fluid intake restriction, 20.0%, affected daily task, 24.5%, avoidance of places and situations, 35.0%, interference in physical activities, 30.6%, interference in relationships with other people, 19.0%, interference in relationship with husband/companion, 8.1%, and time after attack of urinary symptoms, 76.9%. In term of the feeling about the rest of their lives the women reported : perfectly happy, 11.3%, pleased, 16.9%, mostly satisfied, 20.2%, mixed feelings, 21.0%, mostly dissatisfied, 21.0%, very unhappy 8.5%, and desperate, 1.0%. In conclusion, this study was a preliminary study to provide nursing practices guidelines for incontinence in adult women. Nurses working with adult women should develop and provide adequate care for these women.