title: Retrospective document survey: identification, assessment and management of urinary incontinence in medical and care of the elderly wards.
abstract: Urinary incontinence is a common problem experienced by patients in hospital. As part of a series of studies, a retrospective survey was carried out of 229 nursing and medical records of patients identified as incontinent of urine by the nurses-in-charge, in 14 acute medical wards and 26 health care of the elderly wards. The aims of the survey were to investigate the extent to which urinary incontinence had been identified as a problem, and to examine the nature of its assessment and management. The recording of the problem was found to be inconsistent and there was a paucity of information which might have contributed towards its assessment. The causes of incontinence were rarely recorded and in approximately half of the nursing and medical records examined there was a complete absence of any information related to a management plan. Where recorded, interventions reflected predominantly palliative measures such as routine toileting regimens and the use of continence aids. The implications of these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nursing, Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh, Scotland.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Cheater
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology