The value of continence training: does it change clinical practice?

It is estimated that one in six people over 40 are incontinent 'several times a month' and that most of them will not have sought help (Perry et al, 2000). Containment of the problem is no longer the first-line treatment and patients should be given access to an assessment, with a management plan addressing the cause of incontinence. It is thought that around 70% of the estimated population with continence problems in the UK would show a good response to treatment (Royal College of Physicians (RCP), 1995). However, it is recognized that healthcare professionals need knowledge and training to deliver care (Brittain et al, 2001). Previous studies have shown continence education, for both professionals and users, to be cost-effective because investment in techniques to promote continence can reduce dependence on incontinence containment products (Bradley and Morgan, 1998; Williams et al, 1999). This study was based on the belief that there is an educational gap between what is taught and what is practised (Macleod, 1998; Severinsson, 1998). The study drew on an opportunistic sample of students attending continence-training courses. They were asked to complete pre- and post-course questionnaires. Using a follow-up research design, three periods of data were collected. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The results conclude that there was a statistically significant change in the quantitative measure - the test result - but qualified nurses were experiencing some difficulty relating the theory to clinical practice.