Abstract
Background: The present study examined the effectiveness of a continence self-management program in improving lower urinary tract symptoms and voiding behavior.
Method: The present study was a multicenter, prospective cohort study. The measurement points were catheter placement（T1）, catheter removal（T2）, and discharge or one month after catheter removal（T3）. Lower urinary tract function and independence of urination behavior were assessed using a scoring system developed by the Japanese Society of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Management.
Results: Compared with the control group（n=151）, the mean age, proportion of bedridden patients, and mean duration of catheterization were higher in the intervention group（n=86, p<0.01）. On univariate analysis, the score for lower urinary tract function decreased between T2 and T3 among patients with colon, rectal or gynecological disease regardless of whether they received Miles's surgery/lower anterior resection（p<0.001）. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the continence self-management program tended to be associated with improvement of the lower urinary tract function score among patients who received pelvic organ surgery（odds ratio［95% Confident interval］: 3.54［0.88-16.96］） while this relationship was not observed in patients with orthopedic or cerebrovascular disease.
Conclusion: The continence self-management program may be effective in improving lower urinary tract symptoms among patients with pelvic organ surgery.
