Urinary incontinence: prevalence and knowledge among community-dwelling Korean women aged 55 and over.

PURPOSE The prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) among community-dwelling older women in Korea is not well known. This study examined the prevalence of UI and UI-related knowledge among community-dwelling Korean women aged 55 and over. METHOD A cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study was conducted. Data were collected from 276 women aged 55 and over in a metropolitan city using a structured questionnaire. RESULT Of 276 respondents, 28.3% (n = 78) reported experiencing UI. More than 50% of respondents incorrectly agreed with the statement that UI is the result of normal aging, with only 20.9% realizing that there is an exercise that can control urine leaks when one coughs, sneezes, or laughs. Older women who had sought treatment had higher mean score for UI-related knowledge. CONCLUSION This study revealed substantial misconception about UI among community dwelling older women, demonstrating that comprehensive educational programs need to be developed to increase knowledge of UI.