Implementing a Nurse Practitioner‐Led Delivery Model for Continence Care within Community Fitness Facilities

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine whether a nurse practitioner (NP)‐led continence education program and multi‐disciplinary referral pathway within a community fitness facility would increase women s knowledge of urinary incontinence (UI), increase self‐efficacy with continence health promotion behaviors and pelvic muscle exercises, increase quality of life, decrease UI, and facilitate early treatment‐seeking behaviors Methods The design was a single‐group efficacy trial held in a community fitness facility in a Midwestern city. Twenty‐eight women aged 47 to 87 years attended the program. Eighty‐six percent reported experiencing UI. Repeated measures analysis of variance over three time periods and dependent samples t tests were used to assess the aims of this study. McNemar s test was used to assess change in percentage of women willing to seek care for UI. Results A significant relationship between the NP‐led continence program and all study aims was found (knowledge, self‐efficacy in continence health promotion and pelvic muscle exercises, UI severity, and quality of life). Most participants desired to seek initial care for UI at the fitness facility (84%), and 72% would seek care from a practitioner following the NP‐led continence program. Conclusions This study validated the study premise that an NP‐led continence education program within a community fitness facility would be a valuable and strategic way to facilitate pelvic floor health and promote early treatment seeking behaviors. Level of Evidence ‐ III‐B Source: Johns Hopkins Hospital/Johns Hopkins University, 2016. &NA; An innovative nurse practitioner‐led continence education program with referral pathways within a community fitness facility increased willingness to seek care at a primary level, knowledge of urinary incontinence (UI), self‐efficacy of both health promotion behaviors and pelvic muscle exercises, and quality of life, with an overall decrease in UI severity.