Psychosocial impacts and coping strategies of women with stress urinary incontinence
Journal
Tzu Chi Medical Journal
Journal Volume
9
Journal Issue
3
Pages
207-217
Date Issued
1997
Author(s)
Abstract
Stress incontinence is a common urinary problem in adult women. While the physiologic and pathologic effects of this disease have been well studied, the psychosocial impacts and coping strategies are not well understood. We investigated the psychosocial impacts and coping strategies of women with stress incontinence, and the factors that influenced them. Eighty-seven women with stress incontinence (mean age: 50 years) were recruited from outpatients of the urological and gynecological clinics of a large medical center. A psychosocial impact and a copying strategy scale was used to evaluate the patients. Stress incontinence causes mild psychosocial impacts in women. Worry about symptom deterioration, feelings of inferiority, offensive smell of urine, nervousness due to loss of urinary control and embarrassment caused by urinary leakage in public ranked as the top five psychosocial impacts. An active coping category was used most frequently by the patients. The top five coping strategies were frequent urination, compliance with medical regimen, wearing protective pads, keeping hope, believing that the disease will improve, and avoiding strenous activity. Women with chronic illness and menopause experienced higher psychosocial impacts. Active coping strategies were used more frequently by women with higher education while passive coping strategies were used more frequently by women with chronic illness and longer duration of incontinence. Understanding the psychological impacts and coping strategies of women with stress incontinence will help personnel to assist patients cope with stress incontinence and to improve the quality of care.
Subjects
Coping strategy; Psychosocial impact; Stress incontinence
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; article; chronic disease; controlled study; coping behavior; female; health care quality; human; major clinical study; menopause; outpatient; social psychology; stress incontinence; taiwan; urine incontinence
Type
journal article