Women’s Experience Living with Urinary Incontinence

Hsia-Tzu Kao　Chuan-Hsiu Tsai

Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi College of Technology

Abstract

Urinary incontinence is recognized as one of the most prevalent health problems among women.  Loss of urinary control can greatly impact their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to describe Taiwanese women’s experience living with urinary incontinence (UI).  A qualitative descriptive design was used to gain an understanding of women living with urinary incontinence.  Purposive sampling and in-depth interviews of twelve participants were conducted in , 2010.  The findings from this study revealed that UI had physical, psychological , and social impact on the lives of participants.  Five themes emerged from the data: 1. physical discomfort of being wet, 2. psychological impact of having UI, 3. social limitations, 4. woman's fatalism about UI, 5. finding strategies for self-care. In conclusion, women’s experiences of living with urinary incontinence were individual.  It provides valuable insights on how women describe the impact of urinary incontinence on their daily lives.  It is important for nurses to be able to communicate optimally, support and empower women in different health care settings.

Keywords：lived experience, urinary incontinence