Effect of cognitive-behavioral program on quality of life in men with post-prostatectomy incontinence: a randomized trial.
Lívia Cristina de Resende Izidoro, Cissa Azevedo, M Graça Pereira and 4 others
PMID 39475393WHAT IT FOUND
Men with post-prostatectomy incontinence who received a nurse-delivered cognitive-behavioral program reported significantly better quality of life than those given standard surgical care.
The program combined pelvic floor training with lifestyle advice, supported by phone calls and text messages over three months.
Key findings
01The intervention group showed a statistically significant reduction in the impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life compared to the control group at 3 months.
02Improvements were seen in daily activity limitations, general health perception, physical and social limitations, emotions, sleep, and mood.
03The control group received routine guidelines for surgical incision care but no specific guidelines for voiding control.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in a single center in Brazil, which may limit the generalizability of results to other cultural or healthcare contexts. There was a significant imbalance in occupation between groups at baseline, with the intervention group having far more retired participants (94.1%) than the control group (35.3%), which may have influenced adherence or outcomes. The control group received no active intervention for incontinence, only standard incision care, so the results compare a behavioral program against no specific voiding management rather than against another active treatment. The study was single-blind, meaning participants knew which group they were in, which could introduce bias in self-reported quality of life outcomes.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the cognitive-behavioral component alone caused the improvement. The intervention group received pelvic floor muscle training and lifestyle advice, which are known effective treatments for incontinence. The study compares this comprehensive package against standard care with no voiding instructions, so it does not isolate the effect of the cognitive or behavioral support strategies from the physical therapy itself.