Effect of mobile application on incontinence symptoms, compliance with kegel exercises, health beliefs, and quality of life in women with urinary incontinence

Aim: The second phase aimed to assess the effects of a Health Belief Model (HBM)-based mobile application on urinary incontinence (UI) symptoms, kegel exercise compliance, health beliefs regarding UI and kegel exercises, and quality of life in women with UI. It also compared these outcomes with health education delivered via an HBM-based booklet. Method: The first phase was methodological, and the second was a randomized controlled trial design. The second phase included 96 patients divided into two groups. Measurements were taken at baseline, 6th week, and 12th week. In the second phase, interventions included kegel exercises supported by the mobile application in the study group and health education supported by the HBM-based booklet in the control group. Results: The developed mobile application demonstrated high usability and satisfaction levels. Both interventions effectively reduced UI symptoms and the incontinence severity index; however, the control group showed more pronounced improvement. Both interventions yielded positive changes in exercise compliance and health beliefs. Both groups experienced significant reductions in the impact of UI on daily life, quality of life, urogenital distress, irritative symptoms, stress symptoms, obstructive/annoying or voiding difficulty symptoms, and incontinence over time. Conclusion: Both interventions were effective in managing UI symptoms and improving quality of life. They contributed to alleviating UI symptoms by promoting exercise compliance and positively affecting health beliefs. Keywords: Incontinence, health belief, kegel exercise, quality of life, mobile applications