Abstract

JAUREGUI ABRISQUETA, M.L.; DOMINGO RICO, C.; GRANDES, G.  and  LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ, A.M.. Do the incontinent patients improve their quality of life using a humidity detector device?. Actas Urol Esp [online]. 2003, vol.27, n.7, pp.513-516. ISSN 0210-4806.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of a humidity detector device on the quality of life of patients with urinary incontinence IU. METHOD: Quasi-experimental study: a series of ten cases followed for a month. The devices were placed and the questionaires filled in before and after using it for at least ten hours a day during a month. Health related quality of life was assessed through the questionaires for IU convalidated and adapted to our specific environment: Urogenital Inventory Distress (UDI) and Incontinence Impact Questionary (IIQ). An improvement of 58 points by a four option Likert scale was considered a positive impact in the quality of life (IIQ). The scores obtained in UDI and IIQ are described before and after use the device and paried T test and Wilcoxon sign test were carried out to compare the scores obtained in each instance. The capacity to detect a difference of 58 points on the UDI scale was calculated (minimum relevant difference). A binomial test was undertaken to ascertain a probability of achieving an increase in the above mentioned index which would exceed the clinical relevance threshold. RESULTS: Average increase in IIQ improvement: x=5.48 (Std Error = 20.43) 95% CI=-34.56 to 45.56. Average increase in UDI improvement: x=-11.87 (Std Error = 20.70) 95% IC=-52.45 to 28.70. The power of the analysis to detect as relevant a difference of a 588 point increase in IIQ 71.1% and probability of obtaining a relevant improvement in the questionaire IIQ 10% (IC 95%) 0% to 39.4%. CONCLUSIONS: A negative impact in the Quality of Life due to frequent changes of incontinence pads.

Keywords : Urinary incontinence; Adults; Pads; Humidity detector device; Quality of life.

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