Non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatments for female urinary incontinence: an integrative review.

REVIEW AIM: To explore the outcomes of non-pharmacological and non-surgical resources used to treat female urinary incontinence (UI).

DESIGN: It is an integrative review (IR) of literature.

METHODS: The databases CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, Lilacs, Scielo, IBECS, BDENF, and Medcarib were explored. The grey literature, hand searching, and backtracking of references of primary studies were also explored. The fifteen studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were submitted to appraisal of methodological quality and one was excluded, resulting in 14 empirical studies included in this IR.

RESULTS: All the treatments, the corresponding instrumental resources, and the support provided by health care providers resulted in the improvement or cure of UI. The pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) exercise was the main way to treat UI. The multiprofessional involvement, close relationship with patients, continuous monitoring and support associated with PFM training were the factors associated with better adherence to UI treatment and its outcomes.