SELF-MANAGING INCONTINENCE
In the self-management of urinary or fecal incontinence, a precondition for success is the proper treatment of any underlying etiologies. Patients’ self-management behaviors then operate as if in a feedback loop, with patients becoming more knowledgeable about their needs and the management strategies that work best for them.12 In the context of incontinence, six specific self-management behaviors come into play:
• identifying the problem
• seeking evidence-based knowledge
• making decisions about resource use and interventions
• developing and implementing an action plan
• self-monitoring
• setting and attaining goals
Self-efficacy supports self-management behaviors, and each behavior, in turn, promotes self-efficacy