[Frequency of using the bedpan in acute care]

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Patient Experience
• Healthcare Technology

Context:

• Bedpan use is a common nursing task with limited research.
• Patients report discomfort, pain, embarrassment, and privacy concerns.
• Acute care settings involve significant bedpan utilization.

Purpose:

• To quantify the frequency and duration of bedpan use in acute care.
• To identify differences in bedpan use across departments and patient demographics.
• To assess the need for assistance and its impact on nursing workload.

Summary:

• A cross-sectional study measured bedpan use in 729 acute care patients (362 women, 367 men).
• 18.2% required bedpan use, more often at night and varying by department.
• Women used bedpans most on orthopedic/medical wards; men on surgical/medical wards. Most patients needed assistance.

Impact:

• Findings highlight the substantial, often underestimated, nursing workload associated with bedpan use.
• Suggests alternative urine drainage systems could enhance patient autonomy.
• Recommends exploring new systems to potentially reduce nursing workload and improve patient dignity.