The impact of urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract symptoms on work participation: A scoping review.
Creators: name: Gill, Bronwyn
name: Dr Rosalind Bye
name: Coxon, Kristy
name: Verbeek, Marjan
Publisher: name: Open Science Framework
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Social and Behavioral Sciences
subject: Medicine and Health Sciences
subject: Rehabilitation and Therapy
subject: Occupational Therapy
subject: Urinary Incontinence
subject: Scoping Review
subject: Work Participation
subject: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
subject: Employment
subject: Work

description: Project Description: This scoping review aims to describe existing and emerging evidence about the impact of urinary incontinence and/or lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on participation in work. Urinary incontinence and/or LUTS are commonly associated with chronic long-term health conditions or disability, but can also occur as an isolated health problem that is largely invisible to others (Busuttil-Leaver, 2011; Chiarelli &amp; Weatherall, 2010). While people living with urinary incontinence and/or LUTS as an aspect of physical disability (e.g. multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury) often receive services and support in relation to their incontinence, those who experience urinary incontinence and/or LUTS in the absence of a physical disability, may not receive assistance beyond basic medical care. Yet living with these conditions has been shown to impact many aspects of daily life and occupational engagement (Coyne et al., 2012; Fultz et al., 2005; Pierce et al., 2016; Sexton et al., 2009). The involuntary leakage of urine and symptoms relating to urinary incontinence and/or LUTS can impact health and well-being, and are often associated with sleep disturbances, psychological difficulties, and challenges with concentration. Individuals find themselves needing to dedicate time and energy to managing urinary incontinence and/or LUTS to overcome the lack of control of leaking urine or other symptoms. Urinary incontinence and/or LUTS becomes a deeply personal and private affair as people try to manage their challenges throughout each day. As a result of needing to manage these conditions, individuals can be restricted in fulfilling life roles, particularly those involving community life, such as participating in productive occupations such as work. This study will apply scoping review methodology to synthesise existing and emerging evidence about the impact of urinary incontinence and/or LUTS on participation in work (Peters et al., 2020). The Joanna Briggs Institute (Khalil et al., 2016; Khalil et al., 2021; Pollock et al., 2020) scoping review methodology will be employed to conduct the review. Reporting will be in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist (Tricco et al., 2018). A scoping review is an appropriate and helpful methodological approach to address this research aim because it is a systematic method of collecting and examining current and emerging evidence on a new, emerging or under-investigated phenomenon (Khalil et al., 2016; Khalil et al., 2021). This review will systematically map available evidence to: identify knowledge gaps, and/or clarify concepts and definitions, and/or examine research frameworks in the field, and/or provide background to the research project (Khalil et al., 2016; Khalil et al., 2021; Munn et al., 2018; Pollock et al., 2020). This review will explore evidence more broadly and not limited to only including published papers in peer reviewed journals. This scoping review will investigate and include grey literature, for example, published government documents, policies and textbooks (Munn et al., 2018; Pollock et al., 2020). The scoping review will map and provide a descriptive synthesis of all evidence that aligns with the scoping review objectives (Khalil et al., 2016; Khalil et al., 2021).