Positive Health Online

Abstract

GOODE and colleagues, Birmingham VA Medical Center, Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center/11G, 700 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA, pgoode@uab.edu, have studied the effect of behavioural training and pelvic floor electrical stimulation on stress incontinence in women.

Background

Pelvic floor electrical stimulation is effective for stress incontinence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technique in the context of a multi-component behavioural training programme.

Methodology

This prospective, randomized controlled trial took place in an outpatient clinic. 200 women aged 40 to 78 years with stress or mixed incontinence were randomly allocated to either 8 weeks of the behavioural training programme, 8 weeks of the behavioural programme plus pelvic floor electrical stimulation, or 8 weeks of self-administered behavioural treatment using a self-help booklet (control group). All patients kept bladder diaries and recorded incontinence episodes. Patient satisfaction and quality of life were also assessed.

Results

Incontinence was reduced by 68.6% with behavioural training, 71.9% with behavioural training plus pelvic floor stimulation, and 52.2% with the self-help booklet. Behavioural training and behavioural training plus pelvic floor stimulation were both significantly better than the self-help booklet but not significantly different from each other.

Conclusion

Pelvic floor electrical stimulation was no more effective at reducing stress incontinence than a behavioural programme.

References

Goode PS, Burgio KL, Locher JL, Roth DL, Umlauf MG, Richter HE, Varner RE, Lloyd LK. Effect of behavioral training with or without pelvic floor electrical stimulation on stress incontinence in women: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 290 (3): 345-352, Jul 2003.