IRIS: Incontinence Research Intervention Study

This proposal aims to develop and test, in a general population of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), a model for predicting who will succeed in overcoming incontinence long-term (1-year) by simply using Knack therapy (thus avoiding invasive and costly surgery and time consuming Kegel's exercises). Specific Aims are to:

• develop a logistic regression model to predict success with the Knack;
• validate the model by determining the proportion of people who succeed according to who is predicted to succeed; and
• develop long-term effectiveness of the Knack (1-year).

The project will be implemented in three phases: model development (n=160 women), model validation (n~160), and long-term follow-up of women who demonstrate response. This will be evaluated immediately and at 1 month and at 3-months and 1-year.

Inclusion criteria

• Women who are incontinent
• Women who experience leakage with coughing, sneezing or exercising
• Women who are generally healthy
• Women who are over the age of eighteen
• Women who are not pregnant nor expecting to become pregnant within a year

Exclusion criteria

• No urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, or exercising
• Under the age of eighteen
• Pregnant or expecting to become pregnant
• Untreated urinary tract infection
• Pronounced pain or discomfort with pelvic exams
• History of neurologic conditions