Daily-living management of urinary incontinence: A synthesis of the literature

Abstract

This article is an integrative review of the research literature on daily-living anagement of urinary incontinence (UI) by people who live in the community. While most self-management literature investigates how people self-manage clinical treatments and therapies, this article focuses on how UI symptoms are managed in everyday living to maintain social functioning. Control of UI in everyday living is achieved using a range of strategies, which were identified and conceptualized as containing, restricting, concealing, and modifying. Understanding the strategies people use to manage UI in daily life will enable WOC and continence nurses to provide more appropriate and personally tailored advice.