Distance learning: a strategy for improving incontinence care in nursing homes.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes a distance learning model designed to help nursing homes implement incontinence management best practices. A basic premise is that translating research into practice requires both a feasible intervention and a dissemination strategy responsive to the target audience's needs.


METHODS
Over 8 months, nurse supervisors from 14 nursing homes in nine states learned how to implement prompted voiding during monthly 60- to 90-min teleconferences. Supervisors completed field assignments that required them to implement prompted voiding. Descriptive evaluation data were collected using a resident data form, pre- and posttraining quizzes, and a project evaluation survey.


RESULTS
Nursing home staff attended an average of 6.5 teleconferences; on average, three staff members typically attended each teleconference. Eighty-nine percent of all survey respondents (N = 28) reported that they (a) would participate in a similar project and (b) would recommend the course to colleagues. Average scores on the quiz increased 16% (p < .05) from pre- to posttraining. Collectively, participating facilities assessed a total of 261 incontinent residents and reported maintaining 117 (44.8%) on prompted voiding, for an average of 10 residents per facility.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention implementation results were promising for a management strategy often described as challenging to maintain. The distance learning model worked as expected. Given its strengths and relatively few weaknesses, it appears to be a feasible, effective, and low-cost strategy for translating research into nursing home practice.
Rahman
Anna N
AN
MSW, Department of Sociology and Gerontology, Miami University, Upham Hall Room 396, Oxford, OH 45056-1879, USA. rahmananna@yahoo.com
Schnelle
John F
JF
Yamashita
Takashi
T
Patry
Gail
G
Prasauskas
Ruta
R
D020375:Education, Distance / Q000592:standards*; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000451:nursing*