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Urinary Incontinence (UI)OUPSNCT07427693

Usability, Acceptability and Effect of a Mobile Application and Connected Object for Older Women With UI

A study testing Physiotherapy through mobile app and connected device in people with Urinary Incontinence (UI) and Urinary Stress Incontinence, run by Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Geriatrie de Montreal at 1 site in Canada.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

This project aims to evaluate the usability, acceptability, and impact of the Oups! mobile app and a connected Bluetooth dynamometer for at-home PFM training to treat UI. The study will: 1. assess usability and participant feedback on the Oups! app, identifying improvements; 2. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 55 years and older, women only
What is being tested?
Physiotherapy through mobile app and connected device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
36 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
13 Jan 2025to 31 Dec 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 55 years and older
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Women
  • 55 years +
  • Stress or mixed UI symptoms with predominantly stress UI symptoms
  • At least 3 or more urinary leaks/week
  • Able to ambulate safely
  • Understand simple instruction in French, written and verbally
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Basic understanding of how to use a tablet or mobile phone
  • Willing to participate in a gynecological exam
  • Able to properly contract the PFM
  • Provide informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Urge UI symptoms or mixed incontinence with primarily urgency
  • Neurological condition
  • Grade 3 or 4 of pelvic organ prolapse (POP)
  • Any other acute or chronic condition likely to interfere with the mobile app and/or connected object
  • Risk factors likely to interfere with the mobile app and/or connected object (i.e.: chronic constipation, chronic cough)
  • Medications that can interfere with the mobile app and/or connected object
  • Received UI treatments in the last year.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Canada1 site
  • Women's Health and Aging Laboratory - CRIUGM

    Montreal, Quebec, H3W 1W4

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Usability, Acceptability and Effect of a Mobile Application and Connected Object for Older Women With Urinary Incontinence: a Mixed Method Study

This project aims to evaluate the usability, acceptability, and impact of the Oups! mobile app and a connected Bluetooth dynamometer for at-home PFM training to treat UI. The study will:

  1. assess usability and participant feedback on the Oups! app, identifying improvements;
  2. evaluate the usability and acceptability of the dynamometer during assessment and home practice, noting potential enhancements; and
  3. measure the effects of the app and device on UI symptoms, quality of life, and PFM function post-treatment.
Read the detailed description

CONTEXT:

Urinary incontinence (UI), or involuntary urine leakage, is a common issue among women over 55. Clinical guidelines recommend pelvic floor muscle (PFM) therapy as the first-line treatment for UI. However, fewer than one-third of older women seek treatment, often due to cost and accessibility barriers. Mobile applications have proven helpful in managing UI symptoms in younger women, offering a low-cost, private solution that encourages adherence. Although numerous apps exist, none are designed specifically for older women, nor have these women been consulted on app usability or effectiveness.

To address this, the investigators have developed the Oups! mobile app, based on our GROUP pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program for older women with UI. Additionally, the investigators propose using a connected device-a portable Bluetooth-enabled dynamometer-to measure PFM strength and contraction quality, supporting women in performing effective PFMT. Previously, our lab-developed Montreal Dynamometer provided this feedback but was limited to laboratory use.

This study will examine the usability, acceptability, and impact of combining the Oups! app with the new portable dynamometer for PFM self-training in women aged 55 and over. This innovative approach could potentially improve access to effective UI management and increase treatment uptake in this population.

METHODOLOGY:

A sample of 36 healthy community-dwelling women, aged 55 and older with ≥3 stress or mixed UI episode/week on a 7-day bladder diary and stress or mixed UI symptoms according to the Questionnaire for Incontinence Diagnosis (QUID) will be recruited through regional advertisement and our website. Women will participate in a mixed method study.

Confirming inclusion in the study will be done by telephone using a demographic questionnaire, the QUID, and a 7-day bladder diary. Eligible participants will complete a 1.5-hour pre-intervention assessment at the CRIUGM. After reviewing and signing the informed consent form, they will answer questionnaires addressing UI symptoms and their impact on quality of life. A trained pelvic floor physiotherapist will conduct a gynecological examination to assess the participant's pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function, ensuring the ability to perform an appropriate muscle contraction. Following this, participants will undergo a dynamometric evaluation using the Montreal Dynamometer and a connected vaginal device to measure PFM strength, tone, and endurance. Measurements will be taken in supine and standing positions. At the end of the assessment, participants will receive a tablet with the app installed, their own connected vaginal device, and a user guide outlining the use of both the app and device.

For 12 weeks, participants will engage in PFMT using the Oups! mobile app and a connected vaginal device. The program includes educational capsules, pelvic floor exercises, and motivational capsules. Before each session, participants will insert the connected device, which provides feedback on movement accuracy and muscle strength across four exercises. Real-time results are displayed on the tablet for performance quality and quantity. Exercises should be done five days a week, with flexibility to set a weekly schedule. The program gradually increases in difficulty, with final sessions requiring around 30 minutes daily by the third month. Weekly educational (2-5 minutes) and motivational (2 minutes) capsules are provided, and participants will report daily on any urinary leakage. Participants will keep a daily log of technical issues with the app and device. The research team will also make support calls at weeks 1, 5, and 9 to address questions and ensure smooth progression.

Participants will return to the laboratory for a post-treatment assessment after the 12-week self-training program. This 1.5-hour session includes submitting a 7-day bladder diary and questionnaires assessing UI symptoms (ICIQUI-SF) and quality of life (ICIQ-LUTSqol), as well as a usability questionnaire (FC uMARS) and its validation questionnaire. They will redo the same gynecological exam to assess changes in PFM function using digital palpation and both the original PFM dynamometer and the connected vaginal device. Finally, each participant will participate in a 15-20 minute recorded interview to provide verbal feedback on their experience with the Oups! app and the connected device.

ANTICIPATED RESULTS / SPIN-OFFS:

The findings from this project will help guide further treatment of UI in the context of technology. Ultimately it could help improve accessibility to continence-based treatments for aging women especially for those living in areas where resources to care and specialists in pelvic floor rehabilitation are limited. Moreover, this may also improve outcomes as costs associated with this home exercise approach are minimal compared to in-person treatments typically performed in out-patient care settings.

Being tested
Physiotherapy through mobile app and connected device
Keywords
female, aging, physiotherapy, pelvic floor, rehabilitation, mobile app, connected device
Medical subject headings
Urinary Incontinence, Urinary Incontinence, Stress

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Physiotherapy through mobile app and connected deviceBehavioural

    Multimodal physiotherapy through the Oups! mobile app and connected device including pelvic floor muscle exercises 5x/week, an educational video 1x/week, and a motivational video 1x/week. The connected device allows instant feedback about the quality of their contractions and adjusts the goals for each exercise.

Study groups in NCT07427693
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Physiotherapy through mobile app and connected deviceExperimentalPFMT using the Oups! mobile app + a connected vaginal device for 12 weeks
Receives: Behavioral: Physiotherapy through mobile app and connected device

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Percent change in the number of UI episodes

    evaluated with a 7-day bladder diary

    Measured: at recruitment and 13 weeks after recruitment

Secondary outcomes (12)
  1. Change in the symptoms and the degree to which UI-associated symptoms are troubling or bothersome

    evaluated with the International Consultation on Incontinence questionnaire on urinary incontinence (ICIQ-UI short form). Scores range from 0 to 20; higher scores reflect increased severity and symptom burden.

    Measured: at recruitment and 13 weeks after recruitment

  2. Change in UI related QOL

    evaluated with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire module on quality of life (ICIQ-LUTSqol). Scores range from 19 to 76; higher scores reflect a more significant burden on health-related quality of life.

    Measured: at recruitment and 13 weeks after recruitment

  3. Change in PFM function: PERFECT Score

    Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function will be evaluated using the PERFECT scheme via digital vaginal palpation. The score is a composite of Power (Modified Oxford Scale), Endurance, Repetitions, and Fast contractions. For the Power component, the Modified Oxford Scale is used. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 5, where a higher score indicates better muscle strength.

    Measured: at recruitment and 13 weeks after recruitment

  4. Change in PFM Function: Montreal Dynamometer

    PFM function will be measured using the original Montreal Dynamometer.

    Measured: at recruitment and 13 weeks after recruitment

  5. Change in Pelvic Floor Muscle Function: Connected Device

    PFM function will be assessed using a connected biofeedback device.

    Measured: at recruitment and 13 weeks after recruitment

  6. Severity of a pelvic organ prolapse: Baden-Walker System

    Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) severity will be evaluated using the Baden-Walker Halfway Scoring System during a physical examination. This system assesses the degree of descent of pelvic organs. The scale ranges from a minimum score of 0 (no prolapse) to a maximum score of 4 (full eversion/procidentia), with a higher score indicating a more severe condition (worse outcome).

    Measured: at recruitment and 13 weeks after recruitment

  7. Severity of a pelvic organ prolapse: Simplified Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification

    Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) severity will be assessed using the Simplified Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (S-POP-Q) system. This clinical tool classifies the descent of the leading edge of the prolapsed organ. The scale ranges from Stage 0 (no prolapse) to Stage IV (complete vault eversion or procidentia), where a higher stage indicates a more severe condition (worse outcome).

    Measured: at recruitment and 13 weeks after recruitment

  8. Adherence to intervention: Frequency of exercise days

    Adherence will be evaluated using log data automatically recorded by the mobile application. This measure represents the total number of days the participant performed the prescribed pelvic floor muscle exercise sessions over the 12-week intervention period. Participants are instructed to exercise 5 days per week, resulting in a maximum possible adherence of 60 days (5 days x 12 weeks). The scale ranges from a minimum of 0 days to a maximum of 60 days, where a higher number of days indicates greater adherence to the prescribed rehabilitation program

    Measured: during the 12-week intervention

  9. Participant engagement: Educational and motivational video completion rate

    Engagement with the educational and motivational component of the intervention will be assessed by tracking the successful viewing of educational and motivational videos via the mobile app. The unit of measure is the percentage (%) of available videos successfully viewed by the participant during the 12-week period. A higher percentage indicates better engagement with the educational and motivational content.

    Measured: during the 12-week intervention

  10. Training intensity: average force produced during exercises

    The intensity of the daily training sessions will be monitored using the force data recorded by the connected device. This measure calculates the average maximal force produced by the pelvic floor muscles during the prescribed exercise repetitions over the 12-week intervention. The unit of measure is Newtons (N). A higher value indicates a higher intensity of muscle recruitment during the practice and forces produced by the PFM during exercise practice

    Measured: during the 12-week intervention

  11. Acceptability of the Mobile App and Connected Device: uMARS Score

    assessed using the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS). The uMARS is a self-reported scale that evaluates app quality across four objective domains: engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information. The total score is calculated as the average of these subscales. The scale ranges from1 to 5, where a higher score indicates higher perceived quality and acceptability of the mobile application and connected device.

    Measured: 13 weeks after recruitment

  12. Participant Experience and Acceptability: Qualitative Interviews

    In-depth, individual one-to-one semi-structured interviews will be conducted to explore participants' experiences, barriers, and facilitators regarding the use of the mobile app and connected device. The qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes related to the acceptability and usability of the intervention. As this is a qualitative assessment, there is no numerical scale; results will be reported as a summary of identified themes.

    Measured: 13 weeks after recruitment

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted23 Feb 2026
  2. Study start13 Jan 2025
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
36 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07427693
Sponsor's protocol ID
CER VN 24-25-36
Other IDs
CIHR_191336
Acronym
OUPS
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
9 Feb 2026
Last updated
23 Feb 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Physiotherapy through mobile app and connected device in people with Urinary Incontinence (UI) and Urinary Stress Incontinence, run by Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Geriatrie de Montreal at 1 site in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Percent change in the number of UI episodes (time frame: at recruitment and 13 weeks after recruitment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Feb 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.

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