Feb 2020
Urinary Incontinence in Women
Introduction
Urinary incontinence is the most common cause of long-term care centre admission in Canada and women are more likely to experience it than men. The Managing Urinary Incontinence in Women Tool is designed to help primary care providers manage care for adult women (18+) who experience involuntary loss of urine.
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Information
About the tool
The involuntary loss of urine is often unrecognized and underreported. This tool helps guide providers through the management of urinary incontinence in women.
It is important to screen for and diagnose urinary incontinence because many female patients live with the condition without knowing it. Family physicians and primary care nurse practitioners should work with patients to create a treatment plan that keeps in mind patients' preferences and the practicality, availability and affordability of treatment. Treatment may involve non-pharmacological, pharmacological and surgical intervention.
Divided into several sections, the tool covers screening, diagnosis, non-pharmacological interventions, pharmacotherapy, surgical management, pelvic organ prolapse, and follow up and maintenance.
The Managing Urinary Incontinence in Women Tool was developed using the Centre for Effective Practice’s (CEP’s) integrated knowledge translation approach. This approach ensures that providers are engaged throughout the development processes through the application of user-centred design methodology. Clinical leadership of the resource was provided by Dr. Deanna Telner. End users and clinical experts were also engaged to provide feedback.
The tool is one of several clinical tools developed as part of the Knowledge Translation in Primary Care Initiative. This multi-year initiative is a collaboration between the Centre for Effective Practice, Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP), and Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO). Funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, this initiative supports primary care providers with the development of a series of clinical tools and health information resources. Learn more about the Knowledge Translation in Primary Care Initiative (KTinPC).
Clinical leads
Deanna Telner
MD, MEd, CCFP, FCFP
Deanna Telner is a family physician at the community-based, academic teaching site, South East Toronto Family Health Team. She is involved in teaching medical students, residents and colleagues. She is an Assistant Professor and part-time researcher in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. Her area of research interest is in postgraduate and continuing education. Dr. Telner has been extensively involved in the development of online clinical modules for primary care providers.
Dr. Telner provided clinical leadership for the development of the Urinary incontinence topic and was offered compensation for her role.
Conflict of interest
Focus group and usability participants received a small token of appreciation (e.g. gift certificate).
Expert Reviewers
Usability participants received a token of appreciation (e.g., gift certificate).