title: The effects of changing prompted voiding schedules in the treatment of incontinence in nursing home residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of different prompted voiding schedules on urinary incontinence on a continence unit (CU) and the maintenance of benefits on normal nursing units.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiphase study with both intra- and inter-subject comparisons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were 41 consenting incontinent nursing home residents. Based on clinical criteria, subjects were assigned to one of four treatment groups that varied as to the schedule of prompted voiding received.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used chart review, Katz ADL, and MMSE. Urologic status, self-initiated toileting, urine volumes voided, and incontinence assessed by pad/pants checks were measured by research nurses. Baseline pad check data were collected on residents' normal nursing units. Residents were transferred to the CU where baseline measurement was repeated, and the effects of different prompted voiding schedules were then assessed. Indigenous staff were trained to use prompted voiding, and nurse supervisors were instructed in special procedures for enhancing maintenance of the intervention. Residents were returned to their normal units and the maintenance of improvements in continence status was assessed at 2 weeks and 3 months post-CU discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One of the four groups showed significant improvement on the CU in response to the 2-hour schedule; two groups improved on the less intensive 3-hour schedule (P < 0.05). Two groups maintained this improvement on their normal nursing units (P < 0.05); one group showed a non-significant trend toward improvement. Self-initiated toileting decreased (P < 0.05) and volume voids in an appropriate receptacle increased (P < 0.05) during training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prompted voiding is an effective treatment for urinary incontinence, and a less intensive 3-hour schedule may be superior to the standard 2-hour schedule for some residents. These improvements in dryness can be maintained by normal nursing home staff if formal staff management procedures are utilized by nurse supervisors.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Aging, Birmingham School of Medicine, Alabama.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Burgio
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Scheve
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leahy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014554:Urination