A multidisciplinary approach to improving urinary continence

A pilot project was initiated and carried out by a multidisciplinary team working with older people with the aim of promoting effective practice in continence care. A documentation audit and staff questionnaire covering four independent hospital sites had identified the prevalence of urinary incontinence among inpatients to be 47%. This affected patients' participation in rehabilitation programmes. A framework was adopted that supported the implementation of evidence in practice. Strategies used by the project team included: workshops, role play and tools to aid decision making. Success of the project was confirmed by multidisciplinary focus group evaluations of all members of the ward team and by a post-intervention comparison of practice in the pilot ward with a similar ward using an established continence audit tool.