Urinary Incontinence in an Inpatient Rehab Unit

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a very common condition in women, with estimates of prevalence varying from 10% to 40% in most studies and showing a gradual increase with age. UI is a serious medical problem that can lead to urinary tract infections, low back pain, respiratory disorders, pressure sores, and an increased risk of falls. It also leads to social problems, creating embarrassment and negative self-perception for those who suffer from it. Women with urinary incontinence find themselves isolated and relatively inactive. A wide range of treatments has been used in the management of women's UI, including conservative interventions, pharmaceutical intervention, and surgery. A Cochrane Review from 2008 stated that pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is better than no treatment for UI and supports the recommendation that PFMT should be the first treatment line in conservative management programs for women with UI. Recently, there have been a few articles published that looked at the effectiveness of treating UI in a group-like setting with both behavioral modifications and pelvic floor exercises. One study was able to prove that group training of behavioral modification helped to reduce UI severity, increase pelvic floor strength, and reduce voiding frequency when compared to a control group. All of the studies cited were performed in community-dwelling persons with out-patient services and interventions. Dr. Fitzgerald and her colleagues from The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) were able to confirm in a poster presentation that many patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility do have UI. In 2005, out of 403,697 Medicare beneficiaries admitted to a rehab hospital, 24% were incontinent. These studies were able to illustrate that UI affects all diagnoses. UI was shown to make a significant contribution to patient outcomes independent of functional status at admission. It is also a large determinant of discharge destination. In the United King