Promoting Help-Seeking Behavior for Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of a combined primary care physician education and public awareness campaign about urinary incontinence. The campaign was designed to (a) trig ger help-seeking behavior in older adults with urine leakage problems and (b) encourage pri mary care providers to offer appropriate treatment for urinary incontinence (UI). Outcome measures included datafrom helpline callers and physician surveys before and after the two in terventions. Most callers who later sought care turned to their primary care physician. The me dian estimated number of patients presenting with UI in primary care doctor's offices changed from 9 per month to 11 per month, a change that was not statistically significant. Physicians'op timism for the potential gains from incontinence treatment increased.