Urinary incontinence (UI) significantly affects women's quality of life, impacting physical, psychological, and social aspects. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is considered the first-line treatment for UI; however, long-term adherence remains a challenge. The use of mobile technologies has been proposed as an alternative to support treatment adherence.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of using a mobile application for pelvic floor muscle training in women with stress and mixed urinary incontinence, considering the reduction of urinary complaints, impact on quality of life, and participant satisfaction.

This was a randomized controlled trial following CONSORT guidelines. The sample consisted of 104 women diagnosed with stress or mixed urinary incontinence, randomly allocated into two groups: one receiving guidance through a mobile application (n = 52) and another through an educational booklet (n = 52). The training protocol lasted 12 weeks. Participants completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ) before and after the intervention. Treatment adherence was monitored, and satisfaction was assessed using a visual analog scale. The data were analyzed by intention to treat. The collected data were tabulated in a database of the EXCEL® program and analyzed using the SPSS statistical software (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). A descriptive analysis of the data was performed, using simple frequency, mean, standard deviation, p-value, and effect size (D of Cohen) of the quantitative data.The normality of the data was verified using the Shapiro Wilk test. For the analysis of the data, the Two-way ANOVA test with Tukey post-hoc was used. A level significance of 5% was considered.

The results showed that both interventions significantly reduced the interference of urinary incontinence in quality of life. The Booklet group showed higher adherence to the protocol (90.73% of the proposed days) compared to the App group (39.59%), as well as better performance on ICIQ-SF and KHQ scores, especially in reducing the frequency and amount of urinary leakage (p = 0.001). In the between-group analysis, the Booklet group had better results regarding UI impact and social limitations. Regarding satisfaction, both groups had high approval rates, with a higher percentage of "excellent" ratings in the App group (84.61% vs. 76.92% in the Booklet group).

The findings suggest that despite high satisfaction with the app, adherence to PFMT was lower than in the Booklet group, resulting in less expressive symptom improvement.

Future studies should explore ways to optimize adherence to app-based training, including remote professional support. The incorporation of mobile technologies into UI treatment appears promising, but additional strategies are necessary to maximize its effectiveness and long-term adherence.