Shaping future directions for incontinence research in aging adults: executive summary.
BACKGROUND
The Center for Gerontological Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, as part of the John A. Hartford Foundation's Geriatric Nursing Initiative, convened an invitational nursing research summit on incontinence in St. Paul, Minnesota on October 16-18, 2003.


OBJECTIVE
To identify new approaches for conducting urinary and fecal incontinence research in aging adults, identify strategies for reinvigorating and better positioning nursing research on incontinence, and develop recommendations for attracting new nurse investigators to incontinence research and facilitating their research training and mentorship.


METHODS
Forty-seven researchers, project officers, clinician leaders, doctoral students, and consumer advocates from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, and Australia attended a 1(1/2) day conference involving trigger talks, reaction papers, and small and large group discussions around broad thematic areas on incontinence research. Recommendations with suggested strategies were derived from the discussion groups.


RESULTS
Participants identified issues related to each of the summit objectives and discussed potential strategies to overcome these challenges. Twenty-one recommendations were derived: eleven recommendations focused on new approaches to incontinence research; eight on reinvigorating and repositioning nursing research on incontinence; and two on attracting and mentoring new investigators.


CONCLUSIONS
The summit model used effectively engaged an international cadre of researchers and clinicians in stimulating discussions that yielded the identification of strategic directions for conducting and funding incontinence research and strategies for reinvigorating and repositioning nursing research on incontinence.
Wyman
Jean F
JF
Center for Gerontological Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
Bliss
Donna Z
DZ
Dougherty
Molly C
MC
Gray
Mikel
M
Kaas
Merrie
M
Newman
Diane K
DK
Palmer
Mary H
MH
Wells
Thelma J
TJ
D000368:Aged; D002321:Career Choice; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000451:nursing*; D005544:Forecasting; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014943:Global Health; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology; D016294:Models, Nursing; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000458:organization & administration; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000451:nursing*; D000078329:Workforce