Kontakt 2025, 27(2):97-102 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2025.023

Factors influencing the feeling of shame in individuals with incontinence: The INCOTEST studyNursing - Original article

Giulia Villa1, Pier Raffaele Spena2, Ilaria Marcomini1, *, Andrea Poliani1, Debora Rosa1, Danila Maculotti3, Duilio Fiorenzo Manara1
1 Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Center for Nursing Research and Innovation, Milano, Italy
2 Federazione delle Associazioni Incontinenti e Stomizzati (FAIS), Italian National Association for Incontinence and Ostomy Patients, Milano, Italy
3 Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, Brescia, Italy

Introduction: Shame is defined as a negative emotion associated with intense distress and self-blame. It strongly manifests in conditions such as urinary or fecal incontinence. This study aimed to explore the feeling of shame experienced by individuals with incontinence when discussing their condition with others. Additionally, the study sought to identify factors associated with this emotion.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted with 220 patients with incontinence who filled in a 17-item online survey. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to identify factors related to shame.

Results: A significant sense of shame was reported by 39.1% of participants when discussing their incontinence. The highest levels of shame were observed among women with poorer health status who initially sought advice from general practitioners, had limited knowledge of incontinence, and relied primarily on the internet for information.

Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach that includes incontinence's emotional and psychological aspects. Educational and awareness interventions are crucial to enhance understanding, provide reliable information, and reduce social stigma. Creating a trusting environment is essential to enable individuals with incontinence to feel comfortable discussing their condition with healthcare professionals, promoting open and supportive communication.

Keywords: Embarrassment; Incontinence; Shame; Stigma
Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Received: January 28, 2025; Revised: March 26, 2025; Accepted: May 14, 2025; Prepublished online: May 20, 2025; Published: June 23, 2025  Show citation

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Villa G, Spena PR, Marcomini I, Poliani A, Rosa D, Maculotti D, Manara DF. Factors influencing the feeling of shame in individuals with incontinence: The INCOTEST study. Kontakt. 2025;27(2):97-102. doi: 10.32725/kont.2025.023.
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