PURPOSE
This study is reviewed of the available literature to identify the evidence of the value of Kegel exercise programs as an intervention to decrease urinary incontinence and the improvement of the quality of life following a radical prostatectomy in localized prostate cancer.
METHODS
We searched studies of randomized controlled trials that utilized the Kegel exercise programs with patient with a radical prostatectomy. The review was conducted electronic bibliographic database of Ovid-Medline, Embase, Scopus, KoreaMed and NDSL, etc. Of 630 publications identified, seven studies that met the inclusion criteria, and all studies analyzed by meta-analysis. To ensure the quality of the studies, we used Cochrane's Risk of Bias.
RESULTS
Kegel exercise helped patient to achieve continence more quickly (after 1, 3, 6, 12 months) than men not using Kegel exercises. Especially, Kegel exercise significantly reduced the development of urinary incontinence at one month after prostatectomy. The effectiveness of Kegel exercise after prostatectomy was found to improve the quality of life at a significant level.
CONCLUSION
Based on available evidence, Kegel exercise that nurses can teach improved the return to continence more than usual care in men with prostatectomy urinary incontinence.