Help-Seeking Behavior among Older Adults with Urinary Incontinence in Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Urinary incontinence is one of the disabling conditions that may cause discomfort and social avoidance and interfere with daily life, general health, and the overall quality of life. Urinary Incontinence affects people of all ages but is particularly common among older adults. Objective: To find out the tendency of old age people to seek help for Urinary Incontinence and the factors affecting the decision. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in which 164 participants were selected using non-probability convenience sampling. Older adults of both genders between 60 to 85 years with incontinence and admitted to the intensive care unit were included in the study. Result: Out of 164 patients, N=61(37.20%) of the older adults had sought treatment and N=103 (62.80%) had not sought treatment for urinary incontinence. Conclusion: The frequency of older adults in Pakistan who seek help for Urinary Incontinence in Intensive Care Units is low. The most common reason for not seeking help is a lack of knowledge about the available treatment.