Exploring a Path Model of Cognitive Impairment, Functional Disability, and Incontinence Among Male Veteran Home Residents in Southern Taiwan

Most studies focusing on only one directional effect among cognitive health, physical function, and incontinence may miss potential paths. This study aimed to determine the pathway by analyzing the bidirectional effects of exposure (X) on outcome (Y) and explore the mediating effect (M) between X and Y. Secondary data analyses were performed in this study. The original data were collected from August to October 2013 in one VH in Tainan, Taiwan, and the final sample size was 144 older male veterans. Path analysis was performed to test the pathway sequence X → M → Y among the three outcome variables. Approximately 80% of the veterans were aged 81 or older, approximately 42% had a functional disability, 26% had cognitive impairment, and 20% had incontinence. The relationships between functional disability and incontinence and between functional disability and cognition impairment were bidirectional, and functional disability played a key mediating role in the relationship between cognitive impairment and incontinence. Physical more than cognitive training in order to improve or at least stabilize functional performance could be a way to prevent or reduce the process of developing incontinence.