Self-management of urinary and fecal incontinence.

ABSTRACT

OVERVIEW Widely used by patients to control symptoms of chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and arthritis, self-management can also help patients with urinary or fecal incontinence. The authors discuss the principles of self-management, the behaviors and skills self-managing patients need to acquire, and the nurse's role in reinforcing their use. They then describe strategies that can be incorporated within the framework of self-management to control urinary, fecal, or dual incontinence.