Nurses' Recognition and Management of Urinary Incontinence in Elderly Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Sabin Zürcher, Susi Saxer, René Schwendimann
Primary Institution: Lindenhofspital, Bern, Switzerland
Hypothesis
To what extent do nurses recognize urinary incontinence in elderly inpatients, what interventions do they carry out, and are elderly patients willing to discuss this issue?
Conclusion
Nurses poorly recognize and manage urinary incontinence in elderly hospitalized patients, highlighting the need for systematic screening and improved care practices.
Supporting Evidence
- 51% of elderly patients screened positive for urinary incontinence.
- Only 24% of patients with UI were identified in nursing records.
- 85% of incontinent patients were willing to be questioned about UI.
Takeaway
This study found that many elderly patients in the hospital have urinary incontinence, but nurses often don't notice it or help them with it.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of elderly inpatients screened for urinary incontinence and their nursing records analyzed for recognition and interventions.
Potential Biases
Potential underreporting of UI management by nurses may skew results.
Limitations
The small sample size from a single hospital limits generalizability, and the lack of documented observations may not reflect actual management practices.
Participant Demographics
Participants were elderly inpatients aged 65 and older, with a mean age of 75 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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