Effectiveness of mobile apps to improve urinary incontinence: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Renee Widdison, Amineh Rashidi, Lisa Whitehead, Renee Widdison, Amineh Rashidi, Lisa Whitehead

Abstract

Introduction: Pelvic floor exercises are effective in the treatment of urinary incontinence (UI) and are routinely prescribed, along with bladder training, by primary healthcare providers as first line conservative management. Mobile phone applications are increasingly popular within the healthcare setting and can provide opportunities for patients to complete treatments at home. To date, there has not been a systematic review examining outcomes from randomised controlled trials on the effectiveness of mobile applications to improve UI.

Methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of mobile applications to improve UI was carried out according to the PRISMA reporting guidelines. The online databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), Google Scholar were searched for papers published between 2007 to 2020. Keywords and MeSH terms were used to identify relevant English language studies. The quality and risk of bias within included studies was assessed by two independent reviewers, RCT JBI critical appraisal tool. Due to heterogeneity in the outcome of studies, a meta-analysis of the data could not be conducted.

Findings: Four studies reported an improvement in the outcome assessed post-intervention, suggesting that using mobile phone applications for pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) was an acceptable and valid intervention to improve UI.

Conclusion: Mobile applications for PFMT indicated that increase adherence to treatment and decrease UI. The integration of this treatment modality into current practice is recommended. Mobile phone applications for PFMT show promise in the conservative management of UI. Further research is required to support the use of this technology in the conservative management of UI.

Keywords: Adherence; M-health; Mobile applications; Mobile apps; Pelvic floor muscle training; Urological.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

© 2022. The Author(s).

References

    1. Hunter KF, Wagg AS. Improving nurse engagement in continence care. Nursing: Research and Reviews. 2018;8:1–7.
    1. Nyström E, Asklund I, Sjöström M, Stenlund H, Samuelsson E. Treatment of stress urinary incontinence with a mobile app: factors associated with success. Int Urogynecol J. 2018;29(9):1325–1333. doi: 10.1007/s00192-017-3514-1.
    1. McAninch JW, Lue TF. Smith & Tanagho's general urology: New York: McGraw-hill medical. 2013.
    1. Continence Foundation of Australia, Risk factors for urinary incontinence. . 2020.
    1. Venegas M, Carrasco B, Casas-Cordero R. Factors influencing long-term adherence to pelvic floor exercises in women with urinary incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2017;36(5):1369–1376. doi: 10.1002/nau.23116.
    1. Salmon VE, Hay-Smith JC, Jarvie R, Dean S, Terry R, Frawley H, et al. Implementing pelvic floor muscle training in women's childbearing years: a critical interpretive synthesis of individual, professional, and service issues. Neurourol Urodyn. 2020;39(2):863–870. doi: 10.1002/nau.24256.
    1. Asklund I, Samuelsson E, Hamberg K, Umefjord G, Sjöström M. User experience of an app-based treatment for stress urinary incontience: a qualitative interview study. J Med Internet Res. 2019;21(3):e11296. doi: 10.2196/11296.
    1. Joanna Briggs Institute. Joanna Briggs Institute. System for the unified management, assessment and review of information, software for the systematic review of literature (JBI SUMARI). Retrieved from . 2018.
    1. Campbell M, McKenzie JE, Sowden A, Katikireddi SV, Brennan SE, Ellis S, et al. Synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) in systematic reviews: reporting guideline. Br Med J. 2020;368:16890. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l6890.
    1. Araujo CC, Marques AA, Juliato CR. The adherence of home pelvic floor muscles training using a mobile device application for women with urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled trial. Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. 2020;26(11):697–703. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000000670.
    1. Asklund I, Nyström E, Sjöström M, Umefjord G, Stenlund H, Samuelsson E. Mobile app for treatment of stress urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled trial. Neurourol Urodyn. 2017;36(5):1369–1376. doi: 10.1002/nau.23116.
    1. Wang X, Xu X, Luo J, Chen Z, Feng S. Effect of app-based audio guidance pelvic floor muscle training on treatment of stress urinary incontinence in primiparas: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2020;104:103527. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103527.
    1. Hoffman V, Söderström L, Samuelsson E. Self-management of stress urinary incontinence via a mobile app: two-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2017;96(10):1180–1187. doi: 10.1111/aogs.13192.
    1. Wiegersma M, Panman C, Kollen BJ, Berger MY, Leeuwen YL-V, Dekker JH. Effect of pelvic floor muscle training compared with watchful waiting in older women with symptomatic mild pelvic organ prolapse: randomised controlled trial in primary care. BMJ. 2014;349. 10.1136/bmj.g7378.
    1. Sacristán JA. Clinical research and medical care: towards effective and complete integration. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2015;15(1):1–7. doi: 10.1186/1471-2288-15-4.
    1. Pereira-Baldon VS, Avila MA, Dalarmi CB, ABd O, Driusso P. Effects of different regimens for pelvic floor muscle training in young continent women: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 2019;44:31–35. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2018.11.008.
    1. Hall LM, Aljuraifani R, Hodges PW. Design of programs to train pelvic floor muscles in men with urinary dysfunction: systematic review. Neurourol Urodyn. 2018;37(7):2053–2087. doi: 10.1002/nau.23593.
    1. Mallah F, Montazeri A, Ghanbari Z, Tavoli A, Haghollahi F, Aziminekoo E. Effect of urinary incontinence on quality of life among Iranian women. J Family Reprod Health. 2014;8(1):13–19.
    1. Coyne KS, Wein A, Nicholson S, Kvasz M, Chen C-I, Milsom I. Economic burden of urgency urinary incontinence in the United States: a systematic review. Journal of Managed Care & Speciality Pharmacy. 2014;20(2):130–140. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2014.20.2.130.
    1. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Incontinence in Australia. . 2012.

Source: PubMed

3
Sottoscrivi