Validation of Urinary Incontinence as a Nursing Diagnosis in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Women

This descriptive study used the clinical-retrospective model proposed by Gordon and Sweeney (1979) to clinical identify and validate the defining characteristics for three nursing diagnoses: stress, urge and mixed urinary incontinence in Hispanic (n = 28) and non-Hispanic women (n = 135). Significant differences found between Hispanic and non-Hispanic women were associated with the number of live births and two minor defining characteristics, 'loss when coughing, sneezing, laughing' and 'loss when running' for urge and mixed incontinence, respectively. Characteristics of urge incontinence were different between Hispanic and non-Hispanic women. Major defining characteristics reflected these identified in one previous study by Woodtli and Sidani (1993). The increased level of specificity of the major and minor defining characteristics contrasts with defining characteristics related to urge and stress incontinence currently defined by NANDA. Mixed incontinence was validated as a potential nursing diagnosis in both ethnic groups.