title: Supporting women with toileting in palliative care: use of the female urinal for bladder management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored whether a female urinal is an acceptable, safe and effective product to meet the toileting requirements of women receiving palliative care on oncology wards in hospitals.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is minimal evidence on how urinary incontinence should be managed in women receiving palliative care. Female urinals may present an option. There have been two general reviews of products, but no formal evaluation since 1999.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative interview study used semi-structured interviews. Eleven healthy volunteers, 9 patients and 7 staff members used (or assisted with) a VernaFem (Vernacare) female urinal and were subsequently interviewed. Directed content analysis was used to analyse the interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  User testing confirmed that the VernaFem is an acceptable, safe and effective product. Design improvements were suggested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While unlikely to be suitable for all patients, hospitals should consider offering a female urinal to patients in receipt of palliative care.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Academic Fellow and Staff Nurse, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farrington
authors.affiliation: Emergency Nurse Practitioner, RN BN, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Tamsin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Professor of Continence Technology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fader
authors.affiliation: Clinical Professor of Cancer Nursing and End of Life Care, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000072296:Bathroom Equipment; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D064946:Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000451:nursing*; D014554:Urination
keywords: Continence; End-of-life; Qualitative; Toileting; Urination