The effect of systematic screening of older women for urinary incontinence on treatment uptake: The URINO trial

Background: Female urinary incontinence is a common condition that has a negative influence on quality of life and generates high costs, but spontaneous help-seeking is limited. In the URINO trial the effects and cost-effectiveness of actively encouraging older women to undergo diagnostics and treatment for urinary incontinence were compared with usual care.

Objectives: To describe the design of the URINO trial and to give data on the effect of treatment uptake after screening. In the discussion, the criteria of Wilson and Jungner are applied to discuss whether screening for urinary incontinence is suitable.

Methods: In a cluster randomized trial all registered female patients aged >= 55 years received a screening questionnaire. The intervention consisted of actively encouraging women to undergo diagnostics, after which tailored treatment was offered. In the control group care as usual was offered, but uptake of diagnostics and treatment was not encouraged.

Results The response rate was 76%. 31% reported urinary incontinence; of these, 47% was willing to participate. All patients in the intervention group underwent diagnostics and treatment uptake was 80%; in the control group this was 2%.

Conclusion: To increase treatment uptake, screening must be followed by active encouragement for further diagnostics and treatment. Based on the principles of Wilson and Jungner, female urinary incontinence is a condition suitable for screening. The effect of treatment however needs further evaluation before screening can be recommended. The results of the URINO trial will fill this gap in knowledge. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.