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Conservative treatment for incontinence in women in rest home care in Christchurch: Outcomes and cost
Author(s) -
Arnold Edwin Paterson,
Milne Dorothy Joan,
English Sharon
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
neurourology and urodynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1520-6777
pISSN - 0733-2467
DOI - 10.1002/nau.22773
Subject(s) - medicine , urinary incontinence , quality of life (healthcare) , conservative treatment , physical therapy , activities of daily living , urinary leakage , surgery , nursing
Aims To assess if conservative therapy can reduce urinary leakage and pad usage and improve quality of life in elderly incontinent women living in a rest home setting; and if so at what additional cost. Methods Sixty‐eight elderly women with urinary incontinence, and preserved cognitive ability, living in 26 rest homes were identified. Clinical evaluation, included bladder diary, pad weigh tests, pad usage, and quality of life and activities questionnaires (FIM: Functional Impairment Measure; EQ‐5D: Euroquol 5 dimension score; ICIQ‐SF: International Consultation on Incontinence‐Short Form). A specialist Continence Advisor Nurse provided conservative treatment according to the needs of each participant. Outcomes were recorded after 12 weeks of treatment by repeating above evaluations, and the costs involved were measured. Results Leakage was reduced by a mean of 60 ml per 24 hr, and four fewer pads were required per week. The ICIQ‐SF improved significantly. The EQ‐5D did not demonstrate significant improvement, so a cost‐utility analysis was not possible. The mean cost of the Advisor's time and mileage in providing the 12 week course was $247.75 per participant. Conclusion Conservative therapies tailored to each individual, can improve the severity of leakage in the short term, even in this elderly group of women with preserved cognitive function, at modest additional cost. Measuring quality of life and the impact of incontinence, has challenges in this age group. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:636–641, 2016 . © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.