Urotherapy has become the primary treatment for functional daytime urinary incontinence, bedwetting and functional bowel problems in children. Research supports its effectiveness in reducing symptoms.
Enhance your understanding with a seven-day online course presented through the valued collaboration between ESPU and ICCS. Designed for Nurses, Physiotherapists, PU Fellows and healthcare professionals wishing to broaden their expertise, this course delves into the principles and applications of urotherapy.
Apply today to gain the knowledge and expertise necessary to understand the rationale behind urotherapy and become a certified urotherapist. Seize this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young patients and their families.
Start: October 2025
Ends: April 2026
Dates: Seven days of online lectures. More information about the dates will be available soon.
Time commitment: 15-20 hrs a week including online lectures
Total participants: 20
Costs:
€1000 member of ESPU (N) or ICCS,
€1700 non-member
Program
1. Medical Aspects
Anatomy and Physiology
Specific knowledge about the anatomy and physiology of the lower urinary tract and gastrointestinal system is essential to understand this issue. What is the innervation (motor and sensory)? What is the function of the pelvic floor and what happens during bladder filling and emptying, and during rectum filling and emptying.
Diagnostics
Bladder and bowel problems in children are complex conditions; various causes play a role in their development. This module focuses on the pathology and medical diagnostics of urinary and fecal incontinence.
Treatment
This session focuses on pharmacotherapy; many children with functional bladder or bowel problems also receive medication. Knowledge about usage and side effects are covered. Also, the signalling function of the urotherapist for side effects, complications, and therapy adherence.
Additional assessment
Knowledge of various diagnostic instruments, like uroflowmetry, and ultrasound will be discussed.
2. Urotherapy
Diagnostics
Children with functional bladder and bowel problems are referred for urotherapy after excluding anatomical or neurological abnormalities. Flowmetry, ultrasound, and medical history are essential diagnostic tools for determining the subtypes of incontinence and deciding which therapy to follow. Additionally, psychosocial history is relevant to determine the extent to which psychological issues are primary or secondary.
Treatment
Insight, explanation, education, and behavioral changes regarding toilet visits, posture, and urge sensation are important aspects of standard urotherapy. This session includes psychoeducation and demystification. In addition to standard training knowledge, you'll learn to choose the specific treatment that suits the child's diagnosis.
Bedwetting Treatment
During this session, you'll learn what leads to a successful approach. Basic knowledge of pathogenesis, treatment, and recognizing alarm signals are extensively covered.
3. Behavioral Therapeutic Knowledge and Psychology Theory and Case Studies
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Basic knowledge of the psychological development of children and behavioral disorders is necessary to provide adequate guidance. Since urotherapy involves not only physical and cognitive training but also behavioral training, additional knowledge of cognitive behavioral therapy is important to achieve the desired behavioral changes in the child.
Multidisciplinary Care
Not all treatments are successful. Some patients continue to experience symptoms. Being able to identify the cause of treatment failure demonstrates professionalism. Sometimes this is difficult, especially when there is multi-problem complexity. This necessitates good multidisciplinary collaboration.
Case Studies
Translating theory into practice requires a lot of practice and experience. Through case studies from your own practice, you'll discuss and practice diagnostics and treatment. You'll analyze systematically and formulate achievable and evidence-based solutions. You'll also learn about the pitfalls during treatment.
Deadline for Application: August 31st, 2025
To apply for the certification and tell us about your motivation to do so, please fill out the following form
