Continence Care Flashcards

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is caused by:

Answer: Inadequate urethral sphincter resistance during increased intra-abdominal pressure

SUI results from weakened urethral sphincter or pelvic floor muscles that cannot maintain continence when intra-abdominal pressure suddenly rises with coughing, sneezing, or exercise.

Overactive bladder (OAB) is characterized by:

Answer: Urgency, with or without urgency incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia

OAB is defined by urgency—a sudden, compelling desire to void—occurring with or without leakage, typically accompanied by urinary frequency and nocturia.

The first-line conservative treatment for stress urinary incontinence in women is:

Answer: Pelvic floor muscle training (Kegel exercises)

Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) strengthens the urethral sphincter and pelvic floor, reducing SUI leakage and is the first-line evidence-based intervention.

Bladder training for urge incontinence involves:

Answer: Gradually increasing the interval between voids to re-establish normal bladder capacity

Bladder training systematically extends the voiding interval—teaching the patient to suppress urgency—thereby gradually increasing bladder capacity and reducing leakage episodes.

Prompted voiding is a continence intervention primarily used for:

Answer: Cognitively impaired or dependent residents who lack independent voiding awareness

Prompted voiding is designed for cognitively impaired or physically dependent individuals who cannot initiate voiding independently but can respond to caregiver prompts.

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is distinguished from pressure injury by:

Answer: IAD presents as superficial erythema or skin breakdown caused by moisture/irritants, not pressure

IAD is a moisture-associated skin damage confined to the epidermis and dermis caused by exposure to urine or feces, while pressure injuries result from sustained mechanical loading.