Question

When you instruct a patient about how to collect a 24-hour urine specimen, which patient should you ask about possible leaking when laughing or coughing

Answer 1

If a patient has stress urinary incontinence, you should ask about possible leaking when laughing or coughing.

Step-by-step explanation:

When instructing a patient about how to collect a 24-hour urine specimen, you should ask about possible leaking when laughing or coughing if the patient has stress urinary incontinence. Stress urinary incontinence is characterized by leakage of small amounts of urine with activities that increase abdominal pressure, such as coughing, sneezing, or lifting. It is caused by loss of support of the urethra, usually due to stretching of pelvic floor muscles during childbirth.

For patients with stress urinary incontinence, treatment may include Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles or surgery to improve support for the bladder.