The effect of kegel exercise-focused intervention on urinary incontinence with elderly Women

Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of kegel exercise oriented initiative on incontinence, quality of life and perceived effect on elderly women diagnosed with urinary incontinence. Method: This single blind, randomized controlled, experimental research design study was carried out between December 2017 and March 2019 with 30 intervention and 30 control groups, a total of 60 elderly women patients who were registered to Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Home Health Center, diagnosed as urinary incontinence, complying with inclusion criteria. Patient Information Form, Standardized Mini Mental Test, ICIQ-SF (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form), and Weekly Exercise Follow-up Form were used as data collection tools. Kegel Exercise Training Information Handbook prepared by researcher and kegel exercise training ınformation were given to the patients in the intervention group in their houses. The exercise practice situations of the patients was monitored by weekly phone calls. Data were collected before information and 6-12 weeks after the intervention. The statistical analysis of the data was done by SPSS for Windows 23.0. Results: It was determined in the intervention group according to the control group, each repeated ICIQ-SF evaluation showed that the incidence of urinary incontinence and frequency decreased, the quality of life score increased and the scale total score decreased. 83.3% of the intervention group patients stated that their complaints about incontinence decreased in the perceived effect evaluation after the application. The patients in the intervention group, 73.3% of the patients applied the exercise regularly every day. Conclusion: The results of the study was determined that the kegel exercise oriented initiative performed by one-to-one education in their houses and frequent follow-up in the elderly women patients reduces the incontinence level, perceived complaints. And it has shown that it improves the patients quality of life. Key words: urinary incontinence, kegel exercise, nursing