Mobile app for treatment of stress urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Neurourology and urodynamics 2017-06, Vol.36 (5), p.1369-1376
• Main Authors: Asklund, Ina, Nyström, Emma, Sjöström, Malin, Umefjord, Göran, Stenlund, Hans, Samuelsson, Eva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Mobile Applications; Pelvic Floor - physiopathology; pelvic floor muscle training; Quality of Life; randomized controlled trial; self-management; stress urinary incontinence; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweden; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Incontinence, Stress - physiopathology; Urinary Incontinence, Stress - therapy
• ISSN: 0733-2467; 1520-6777; 1520-6777
• DOI: 10.1002/nau.23116

Aims To evaluate the effect of a mobile app treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. Methods Randomized controlled trial, conducted 2013‐2014 in Sweden. Community‐dwelling adult women with ≥1 SUI episode/week recruited through our website and randomized to app treatment (n = 62) or control group (postponed treatment, n = 61). One participant from each group was lost to follow‐up. Intervention was the mobile app Tät® with a treatment program focused on pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), and information about SUI and lifestyle factors. Primary outcomes, 3 months after randomization: symptom severity (International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form [ICIQ‐UI SF]); and condition‐specific quality of life (ICIQ Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life [ICIQ‐LUTSqol]). Results One hundred and twenty‐three women were included (mean age 44.7), with moderate/severe SUI (97.5%, 120/123), mean ICIQ‐UI SF score 11.1 (SD 2.8) and mean ICIQ‐LUTSqol score 34.4 (SD 6.1) at baseline. At follow‐up, the app group reported improvements in symptom severity (mean ICIQ‐UI SF score reduction: 3.9, 95% confidence interval 3.0‐4.7) and condition‐specific quality of life (mean ICIQ‐LUTSqol score reduction: 4.8, 3.4‐6.2) and the groups were significantly different (mean ICIQ‐UI SF score difference: −3.2, −4.3to −2.1; mean ICIQ‐LUTSqol score difference: −4.6, −7.8 to −1.4). In the app group, 98.4% (60/61) performed PFMT at follow‐up, and 41.0% (25/61) performed it daily. Conclusions The mobile app treatment was effective for women with SUI and yielded clinically relevant improvements. This app may increase access to first‐line treatment and adherence to PFMT.