Authors: (including presenting author): :
Lui KL(1), Sy YW(1), Kung WC(1), Chan KH(1), Yu MH(1), Li CM(1), Kot WY(2), Mok LC(3)
Affiliation: :
(1)Department of Surgery, (2)Community & Patient Resource Department, (3)Nursing Services Division, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, HKSAR
Keyword 2: :
Overactive Bladder
Keyword 3: :
Interprofessional
Introduction: :
Overactive bladder (OAB) affects older adult women, causing urgency, frequency, nocturia, and urge urinary incontinence (UUI). Behavioral therapy, the first-line treatment, often has inconsistent outcomes, while pharmacological options pose side effects. This study evaluates the feasibility and preliminary utility of a 4-week mindfulness-informed group intervention combining mindfulness with standard behavioral therapies.
Objectives: :
The primary objective is to explore the feasibility of a novel, 4-week, mindfulness-informed group based behavioural therapy program for women with OAB, while the secondary objective is to assess the preliminary clinical utility of the mindfulness program in terms of the program’s effect on a number of specific outcomes, including comparison of pre- and post-program outcomes.
Methodology: :
A single-arm, pre-post pilot study was conducted with ten women diagnosed with OAB. Participants attended four weekly two-hour sessions involving mindfulness, bladder training and pelvic floor muscle training. Feasibility metrics (recruitment, attendance, retention) and clinical outcomes were assessed using the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7), and bladder diary metrics.
Result & Outcome: :
The program achieved a 90% retention rate, with significant improvements in symptom severity (UDI-6: 6.56 to 4.78; OABSS: 8.22 to 5.89), quality of life (IIQ-7: 8.00 to 5.78), and anxiety (GAD-7: 3.56 to 2.44). Bladder diary metrics showed improvement in voiding frequency (e.g., from 30-60 mins to 1-1.5 hrs), nocturia, incontinence episodes, and pad usage, with voided volumes increasing from 70-100 ml to 150-300 ml in several participants.
In conclusion, this study demonstrates the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a mindfulness-informed intervention for OAB, with notable improvements in symptoms and quality of life. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and support its integration into clinical practice.
