New Toolkit Helps Primary Care Teams Screen for Urinary Incontinence

https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/evidencenow/mui/mui-screening-toolkit.pdf The loss of bladder control—called urinary incontinence (UI)—is a common chronic condition that affects more than 50 percent of women aged 20 and older in the United States, yet fewer than 30 percent of women over 40 receive treatment. Primary care practices and providers can help close this gap, and a new AHRQ toolkit offers them the tools to do so. Steps for Increasing Urinary Incontinence Screening: A Guide for Primary Care Practices is designed to help primary care teams implement routine UI screening and followup care with minimal disruption to existing workflows. Developed as part of AHRQ’s EvidenceNOW Managing Urinary Incontinence initiative, in partnership with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the toolkit includes practical strategies to prepare the clinic, build staff and leadership buy-in, select screening tools, assign team roles, and sustain the practice over time. It also offers scripting tips, workflow examples, and access to evidence-based, nonsurgical treatment options such as bladder training, pelvic floor therapy, and behavior change strategies. By proactively addressing UI, practices can improve quality of life for patients, reduce stigma, and enhance satisfaction with care.