Long-term ambulatory monitoring of urine leakage in the elderly: an evaluation of the validity and clinical applicability of thermistor signalling.
This study evaluated the validity and applicability of a low-cost Urine Leakage Recording Device (ULRD) in a geriatric setting. The ULRD consisted of a thermistor, connected to a portable, digital datalogger. The thermistor was positioned on a commercially available adult diaper. Five healthy females were instructed to void urine in seven behavioural conditions comprising general motor activity patterns of the average, psychogeriatric elderly in-patient. Voids were verbally indicated by the subjects and concomitantly recorded by the ULRD and the observer. After comparing the ULRD records--scored by three independent assessors--with the subjects' reports, on average (SD) 5.3 (0.6) of a total of 10 voids were classified correctly, whereas 9.3 (1.3) false positive events were indicated. None of the subjects reported any inconvenience as a result of the recording procedure. Although the ULRD is easily applicable, we conclude that it seems to be of little value in its present form as a method for long-term ambulatory monitoring of urine leakage.
van der Hurk
P R
PR
Psychogeriatric Chronic Care Hospital Mariahoeve, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Middelkoop
H A
HA
van Waalwijk-van Doorn
E S
ES
Roos
R A
RA
Cools
H J
HJ
D000368:Aged; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009068:Movement; D011187:Posture; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012984:Software; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine