Knowledge and Practice of Urinary Incontinence Management Among Nursing Professionals in Serbian Nursing Homes: A Multicentre Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent condition among older adults, particularly in nursing home residents. Furthermore, it is associated with significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens. Effective management of UI depends on the knowledge and practices of nursing professionals, who are responsible for fundamental care. However, their knowledge and practice gaps remain challenging. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of nursing professional regarding urinary incontinence, to explore whether there are differences in knowledge and practice concerning their sociodemographic characteristics and to determine if there is a correlation between knowledge and practice regarding UI.

METHODS

A multicentre descriptive, cross-sectional study design following STROBE guidelines was conducted. The sample comprised 171 participants, and as research instruments, the Urinary Incontinence Quiz (UIQ) and the Urinary Knowledge and Practice Instrument (UKPI) were used.

RESULTS

The overall knowledge of nursing professionals about UI in older people was suboptimal, but most were familiar with the causes of UI, and that toilet training can improve incontinence. Nursing professionals with continuing education or interest in learning more about UI demonstrated significantly higher knowledge levels. Practice scores revealed that continence care interventions were often implemented, but documentation and support practices such as comprehensive toileting plans were less frequently performed. A weak but significant positive correlation was found between knowledge and practice.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights substantial knowledge and practice gaps in UI management among nursing professionals in Serbia. The findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to improve UI care.