In addressing urinary incontinence, which approach may diminish the effectiveness of habit training?

Using absorption briefs can diminish the effectiveness of habit training in addressing urinary incontinence because these products can create a reliance on them for managing incontinence rather than encouraging the development of more active management strategies. Habit training relies on the patient recognizing the urge to urinate and responding at scheduled intervals, which helps retrain bladder function and improve independence from incontinence products.

When individuals use absorption briefs, they may feel less compelled to adhere to a schedule for urination, potentially undermining the habit training approach. This reliance on briefs can also lead to a decrease in motivation to engage in behaviors that promote bladder control and regular voiding habits. In contrast, scheduled urination, increasing water intake, and performing pelvic exercises all actively engage the patient in managing their condition and can be supportive of habit training rather than counterproductive.