Urinary incontinence in hospital-based nurses working in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the changes in quality of life due to urinary incontinence in female hospital-based nurses working in Turkey and whether professional help was sought by the nurses. Another aim was to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence and its risk factors in working nurses.

METHODS

Data were collected through administration of a questionnaire and the Incontinence Quality-of-Life Instrument. The data were analyzed via chi(2) test, t test, one-way analysis of variance, and binary logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 21.5%. Explanatory variables for developing urinary incontinence were age, parity, and recurrent urinary tract infections. Nurses with stress incontinence or urge incontinence had better quality of life than did those with mixed incontinence.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, urinary incontinence was common in working nurses, and had a negative impact on their general quality of life.