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Study objective-The aim was to validate a simple severity index of female urinary incontinence for subsequent use in an epidemiological survey. Design-The index was created by multiplying the reported frequency (four levels) by the amount of leakage (two levels). The resulting index value (1-8) was further categorised into slight (1-2), moderate (3-4), and severe (6)(7)(8) There was a strong correlation between severity and impact (R=0.59, p<0-001). Conclusion-The severity index may be a useful tool for assessing the severity of female urinary incontinence in epidemiological surveys. It is confirmed that urinary incontinence is very prevalent in adult women, but most should not be regarded as potential patients. 7 Epidemziol Community Health 1993; 47: 497-499 Several epidemiological surveys of female urinary incontinence have been conducted over the years. 8Not all of these studies cover the complete adult age span, but many authors report a prevalence peak in middle life, followed by a decline, and then a subsequent rise in old age.

A high correlation between the ICIQ-UI SF and the ISI was found. The ICIQ-UI SF may be divided into the following four severity categories: slight (1-5), moderate (6-12), severe (13-18) and very severe (19-21). Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:411-415, 2009. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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The incontinence severity index (ISI) consists of two questions, regarding frequency and amount of leakage. It categorizes urinary incontinence (UI) into slight, moderate, severe, and very severe. The purpose of this study was to test its validity. The index was compared with the results of pad-weighing tests performed by 200 incontinent women referred to a hospital clinic and 103 at a primary care incontinence clinic. Inconvenience was scored by a six-level Likert scale. Mean pad-weighing results (grams per 24 hours, 95% confidence intervals) were 7 (4-10) for slight, 39 (26-51) for moderate, 102 (75-128) for severe, and 200 (131-268) for very severe UI. Spearman's correlation coefficient for pad-weighing results and severity index was 0.58 (p<0.01), and inconvenience increased significantly with increasing severity. The ISI demonstrated good criterion validity against 24-h pad tests. Good construct validity was indicated by a clear link between ISI and inconvenience.

Objective To evaluate the internet as a source of information about urinary incontinence and to explore interactive facilities. Design Limited survey of internet resources. Subjects 75 websites providing information about incontinence and an opportunity for interactivity, 25 web doctors, and two news groups. Main outcome measures Quality scores according to predefined general and specific criteria. Internet popularity indexes according to number of links to websites. Correlation between quality scores and popularity indexes. Results Few sites provided comprehensive information, but the information actually provided was mostly correct. Internet popularity indexes did not correlate with quality scores. The most informative site was easily found with general internet search engines but was not found in any of the medical index sites investigated. Sixty six per cent of sites responded to an email request for advice from a fictitious incontinent woman, half of them within 24 hours. Twelve responders provided vital information that the woman might suffer from drug induced incontinence. Conclusions Excellent information about urinary incontinence was found on the internet, but the number of links to a site did not reflect quality of content. Patients may get valuable advice and comfort from using interactive services.

BackgroundContinuity, usually considered a quality aspect of primary care, is under pressure in Norway, and elsewhere.AimTo analyse the association between longitudinal continuity with a named regular general practitioner (RGP) and use of out-of-hours (OOH) services, acute hospital admission, and mortality.Design and settingRegistry-based observational study in Norway covering 4 552 978 Norwegians listed with their RGPs.MethodDuration of RGP–patient relationship was used as explanatory variable for the use of OOH services, acute hospital admission, and mortality in 2018. Several patient-related and RGP-related covariates were included in the analyses by individual linking to high-quality national registries. Duration of RGP–patient relationship was categorised as 1, 2–3, 4–5, 6–10, 11–15, or >15 years. Results are given as adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) resulting from multilevel logistic regression analyses.ResultsCompared with a 1-year RGP–patient relationship, the OR for use of OOH services decreased gradually from 0.87 (95% CI = 0.86 to 0.88) after 2–3 years’ duration to 0.70 (95% CI = 0.69 to 0.71) after >15 years. OR for acute hospital admission decreased gradually from 0.88 (95% CI = 0.86 to 0.90) after 2–3 years’ duration to 0.72 (95% CI = 0.70 to 0.73) after >15 years. OR for dying decreased gradually from 0.92 (95% CI = 0.86 to 0.98) after 2–3 years’ duration, to 0.75 (95% CI = 0.70 to 0.80) after an RGP–patient relationship of >15 years.ConclusionLength of RGP–patient relationship is significantly associated with lower use of OOH services, fewer acute hospital admissions, and lower mortality. The presence of a dose–response relationship between continuity and these outcomes indicates that the associations are causal.