InfoSheet:
Definition/Background
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine that is
sufficient to be a problem, and may present as any of the following
types:
Transient incontinence is urine loss resulting from causes outside
of or affecting the urinary system such as acute confusion,
infection, atrophic urethritis or vaginitis, medications, psychological
conditions, restricted mobility or stool impaction.
Urge incontinence is the involuntary passage of urine occurring
soon after a strong sense of urgency to void.
Stress incontinence is a loss of urine with coughing and or
sneezing resulting in increased abdominal pressure.
Mixed incontinence is urine loss having features of both stress
and urge.
Functional incontinence is urinary leakage associated with
inability to access the toilet because of impairment of cognitive
and/or physical functioning or environmental barrier.
Overflow incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine associated
with bladder over-distention.
Total incontinence is a continuous and unpredictable loss of
urine.
Urinary Incontinence has been estimated to affect over 1.5 million
Canadians in community and institutional settings (Canadian
Continence foundation, 1998).
Source: Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (2005)
Promoting continence using prompted voiding Toronto, ON:
RNAO
Key Organizations
Canadian Continence Foundation
http://www.continence-fdn.ca/index.html
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society
http://www.wocn.org/
Canadian Nurse Continence Advisor Association
http://www.cnca.ca/
Guidelines/Decision
Aids
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (2005) Promoting
continence using prompted voiding Toronto, ON: RNAO
http://www.rnao.org
American Medical Directors Association (2005) Urinary
incontinence: practice guideline Columbia, MD: AMDA
http://www.amda.com
Key Articles and Books
Borrie, M.J. & Valiquette, L. (2002) Managing adults with urinary
incontinence. Clinical practice guidelines. Canadian Family
Physician, 48, 114-16.
Holroyd-Leduc, J.M. et al (2006) Practical management of urinary
incontinence in the long-term care setting. Annals of Long-Term
Care, 14(2), 30-7.
Holroyd-Leduc, J.M. et al (2004) Urinary incontinence and its
association with death, nursing home admission and functional
decline. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 52,712-8.
Frantz, R.A. (2003) Implementing an incontinence management
protocol in long-term care: clinical outcomes and costs. Journal of
Gerontological Nursing, 29(8), 46-53.
Alessi, C.A. et al (2002) Incidence and costs of acute medical
conditions in long-stay incontinent nursing home residents. Journal
of the American Medical Directors Association, 3(4), 229-42.
Smith, D.A. (2002) Continence care options for the long-term care
resident: a supplement to the Journal of the American Medical
Directors Association. Journal of the American Medical Directors
Association, 3(1), Suppl.
Ouslander, J.G. (2007) Quality improvement initiatives for urinary
incontinence in nursing homes. Journal of the American Medical
Directors Association, 8(3), S6-11.
Zarowitz, B.J. & Ouslander J.G. (2006) Management of urinary
incontinence in older persons. Geriatric Nursing, 27(5), 265-70.
Getliffe, K. & Dolman, M. (Eds.). (2003) Promoting continence: a
clinical and research resource (2nd. Ed.). Edinburgh : Baillière
Tindall
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09/07/2007