Patient-centered interventions: implications for incontinence.
BACKGROUND
Nurse researchers in incontinence have focused on testing the effects of standardized interventions; however, nurses in practice usually customize interventions with patients. Patient-centered interventions promise to bring research and practice closer together.Tailored interventions, one kind of patient-centered intervention, have been associated with improved health outcomes and can guide research interventions regarding incontinence.


OBJECTIVE
To define the concept "patient-centered," discuss four kinds of patient-centered interventions, offer examples of tailored interventions, and suggest ideas for future incontinence research.


METHODS
Existing literature on patient-centered interventions was analyzed to generate a plan for future research.


RESULTS
Research is needed to demonstrate the efficacy of patient-centered interventions in outcomes, to determine bio-psycho-social factors of subgroups (race, gender, ethnicity) in order to more accurately describe prevalence rates and create effective interventions, and to find common variables among successful interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
Developing and testing patient-centered interventions regarding incontinence promises to advance knowledge about more effective interventions, conditions under which they are more or less effective, and how they are effective.
Lauver
Diane R
DR
School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. drlauver@wisc.edu
Gross
Jan
J
Ruff
Coralease
C
Wells
Thelma J
TJ
D000368:Aged; D005544:Forecasting; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009742:Nursing Theory; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012107:Research Design; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000451:nursing*