A pilot study to evaluate reusable absorbent body-worn products for adults with moderate/heavy urinary incontinence.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the performance of reusable absorbent body-worn products for adults with moderate/heavy urinary incontinence, compare their performance with a group of equivalent disposable products, and establish the need for a larger statistically robust study.


METHODS
Ten men and 4 women living in the community were recruited from locations throughout the United Kingdom.


METHODS
A randomized multiple crossover design was used in which all subjects were given the opportunity to test each product. All the products were available on the UK market in January 2001. The following tools were used in the evaluation: a product performance questionnaire and a pad leakage diary. Overall opinion was used as the primary outcome indicator.


RESULTS
The reusable Paddy T was the best performing product overall, outperforming the disposable products. For low leakage and good absorbency (the most important product attributes identified by the subjects), the disposable all-in-one product performed best during the day. However, the Paddy T performed best for night use. The remaining reusable products performed poorly overall.


CONCLUSIONS
Reusable products for moderate/heavy incontinence remain unpopular for use in isolation. Surprisingly, a product manufactured from terry toweling, a traditional material, performed relatively well. Reusables may provide a useful alternative to disposable products in certain circumstances. The results from this study do not support a more comprehensive costly study.
Macaulay
Margaret
M
University College London, Continence Products Evaluation Network, Continence Technology Group, Department of Medicine/Medical Physics, Archway Campus, Highgate Hill, London, UK. m.macaulay@ucl.ac.uk
Clarke-O'Neill
Sinead
S
Fader
Mandy
M
Pettersson
Lena
L
Cottenden
Alan
A
D000042:Absorption; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D041382:Diapers, Adult / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000592:standards; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D017743:Equipment Reuse; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007846:Laundering / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology