Group training for overactive bladder in female patients: a clinical, randomized, non‐blinded study

Abstract

ABSTRACTBladder training (BT) given individually for overactive bladder symptoms (OAB) is time consuming, and patients tend to need reinforcement. We hypothesized that a specified BT programme for female OAB patients performed as group training would have the same effect as the identical programme used for individual training. A randomized, controlled, non‐blinded trial in six hospital‐situated clinics in Denmark. A total of 91 women were randomized to either individual BT or group BT (three–four patients in each group). In both settings BT was to be performed daily for a 2‐month period supported by a diary and with three training sessions at the hospital coached by a continence nurse. All analyses were performed as intention‐to‐treat. Main outcome measures were urgency episodes, urgency incontinence episodes and scores from a symptom‐specific visual analogue scale (VAS). A total of 38 women with individual BT and 41 with group BT were included in the analyses. No significant differences in urgency episodes, urgency incontinence episodes, voiding frequency between the two settings were observed after treatment. Neither did scores from the VAS scale differ. Median values showed a daily 50% reduction in urgency incontinence episodes. Daily voiding frequency of 8·5–10 was reduced to 7·5 voidings. Women were equally satisfied with the programme in both settings. Compliance in training was equal, and no serious adverse events were reported in either setting. This particular BT programme for female OAB patients showed no difference between group training and individual training with respect to clinical end points, patient satisfaction or compliance.