Urogenital distress and the psychosocial impact of urinary incontinence on elderly women.

The purpose of this descriptive correlational pilot research, which was conceptually based on the Roy Adaptation Model, was to discern if a relationship exists between urogenital distress and the psychosocial impact of urinary incontinence (UI) in elderly women. These issues are critical for rehabilitation nurses who work with this segment of the population. The study sample consisted of 17 community-dwelling women over the age of 60 who experienced UI at least once a week. A significant relationship between urogenital distress and the psychosocial impact of UI (r = .673, p = .003) was found. The negative psychosocial impact of UI on elderly women suggests that effective nursing interventions to promote optimal adaptation should be instituted. Healthcare professionals and the public at large must be educated to enhance their awareness of the problem so that women who have UI will seek and receive appropriate treatment.