Urinary incontinence is a relatively common problem that is barely discussed, because it is a problem that evokes deep seated embarrassment and angst. While incontinence is generally a symptom or a side effect of another underlying problem, it is a tough problem to deal with nonetheless. As it turns out the internet is an absolute blessing for anyone suffering from incontinence, because even though people are still quite reluctant to discuss incontinence in polite company, there is an abundance of information regarding the subject available online.
A study was conducted at the Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care (University of Bergen, Ulriksdal 8c, N-5009 Bergen, Norway, http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/319/7201/29) by Hogne Sandvik, which looked at the internet to see if it is a valuable resource for women who are dealing with urinary incontinence issues. The study evaluated a relatively limited group of internet sites including 25 web doctors, 2 news groups and 75 websites. All of these sites contained information on urinary incontinence.
What the study found is that while there is not much in-depth information about urinary incontinence, there is a lot of information, and it is generally correct. The website that was deemed to be the most informative interestingly could be found through a regular Internet search engine, but it did not show up in any of the medical index searches.
In the study an email question for advice was sent to each website with questions about incontinence from a fictitious woman, and about two thirds of the websites responded to the email. Half of the email responses were received within 24 hours, and 12 of the responses were quite comprehensive offering vitally helpful information.
Another interesting thing that the study found is that the quality of the website’s content was not reflected in its search engine ranking. So some of the less popular sites actually had better information than many of the more popular sites. There is a lot of high quality information regarding urinary incontinence on available on the Internet, and the information is timely and easy to access.
Since the Internet has become a source for everything from cooking to house hunting, it only makes sense that it works as a useful tool in gathering information and managing urinary incontinence. While the exact benefits of using the Internet in this way are still vastly unmeasured, it holds a lot of valuable information that is easy to retrieve. It is also an excellent place for people with incontinence to interact, and because there is a veil of anonymity in an online discussion, the sting of the social stigma is lessened.
So if you are working your way through a brush with incontinence, remember that while the Internet is not a substitute for discussing your problem with your doctor, it can be a valuable resource for information, practical solutions and moral support. You can even find incontinence products on the Internet, which you can order from the comfort of your home, and have them delivered directly to you. DryForLife has been helping customers manage their urinary incontinence by providing the right product at the right time. Using quality incontinence products can help keep you comfortable and confident.
Further Urinary Incontinence Articles
- Surgery for Urinary Incontinence in Men
- Urine Leak Becomes More Likely with Age
- Bladder Problem is Common Condition
- Urinary Incontinence and the Internet
- Urinary Incontinence in Women Increases with Age
- Posture and Urinary Incontinence
- Understanding the Cause of a Leaking Bladder
- Antidepressants and Incontinence
- The Effects of Medications on Urinary Incontinence
- Urinary Incontinence - Facts and Myths
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