Effects of Non-pharmacological Interventions Designed for Adults with Overactive Bladder Syndrome: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review non-pharmacologic intervention programs designed to alleviate symptoms in adults with overactive bladder syndrome. Methods: A systematic search using Korean and English keywords was conducted in nine electronic databases. Ten studies were included in the sample for the systematic review. The Risk of Bias (RoB) and the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study (RoBANS) were used to assess methodological rigor and quality of scientific evidence. Results: Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were used in eight studies and quasi-experimental designs were used in two studies. Non-pharmacological interventions included education, acupuncture, Tibial Nerve Stimulation (TNS), exercise (pelvic muscle exercise, Tai-chi), and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) biofeedback. The majority of the literature has been evaluated to have a low risk of bias. Nine out of 10 studies applied interventions on women only. It was shown that education, TNS, exercise, and HRV biofeedback were effective in alleviating overactive bladder syndrome symptoms, but acupuncture's efficacy depended on the frequency and intensity of the intervention. Conclusion: The results provide a basis for developing an intervention program to improve the symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome. Future studies should also include men as subjects. The results of the intervention should be generalized by confirming the consistency and effectiveness of the aforementioned based on its frequency and intensity.

Effectiveness of Fluid and Caffeine Modifications on Symptoms in Adults With Overactive Bladder: A Systematic Review

“…Moreover, only 2 were published within the last 10 years. This result is opposed to the study of Park and Kim [ 45 ] that the number of nonpharmaceutical intervention research studies was increasing. It is because this review only included studies with fluid and caffeine modification interventions among various nonpharmaceutical interventions such as education, acupuncture, or exercise.…”