Authors' objectives: To assess the available evidence on the efficacy, safety and coverage related issues regarding the use of biofeedback in women with fecal, urinary or combined incontinence.

Authors' recommendations: The evidence found is limited and it comes from low methodological quality studies. Although the few studies of good methodological quality found in the systematic reviews for fecal incontinence suggest that exercise therapy could benefit by adding biofeedback, this is not so evident for patients with urinary incontinence. In agreement with these findings, the clinical practice guidelines consulted agree to include biofeedback for fecal incontinence, but not for urinary incontinence. In spite of this, several health sponsors cover this technology for both indications. To conclude, more studies of good methodological quality are needed to compare biofeedback with other therapeutic options in order to get more definitive conclusions, mainly for UI.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2013

URL for published report: https://www.iecs.org.ar/home-ets/?cod_publicacion=1544&origen_publicacion=publicaciones

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Argentina

Organisation Name: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy

Contact Address: Dr. Emilio Ravignani 2024, Buenos Aires - Argentina, C1414 CABA

Contact Name: info@iecs.org.ar

Contact Email: info@iecs.org.ar

Copyright: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS)