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Clinical Evaluation of a Prototype Underwear Designed to Detect Urine Leakage From Continence Pads
Adele Long1, Julia Edwards, Joanna Worthington
1Adele Long, MPhil, MBA, BSc (Hons), Bristol Urological Institute, North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, England. Julia Edwards, BSc, Cert Adv Nursing, RN, Bristol Urological Institute, North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, England. Joanna Worthington, PhD, BSc (Hons), Bristol Urological Institute, North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, England. Nikki Cotterill, PhD, RN, Bristol Urological Institute, North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, England. Iain Weir, PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of the West of England, Bristol, England. Marcus J. Drake, FRCS Eng, BM, BCh, Oxon, Bristol Urological Institute, North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, England. Eleanor van den Heuvel, BSc (Hons), MSc, Brunel Institute for Bioengineering, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom.
Purpose:
We evaluated the performance of prototype underwear designed to detect urine leakage from continence pads, their acceptability to users, and their effect on health-related quality of life and psychosocial factors.
Design:
Prototype product evaluation.
Subjects And Setting:
Participants were 81 women with an average age of 67 years (range, 32-98 years) recruited between October 2010 and February 2012 from outpatient clinics, general practice surgeries, community continence services, and through charities and networks.
Methods:
The TACT3 project developed and manufactured a prototype undergarment designed to alert the wearer to a pad leak before it reaches outer clothing or furniture. The study was conducted in 2 stages: a pilot/feasibility study to assess general performance and a larger study to measure performance, acceptability to users, health-related quality of life, and psychosocial impact. Participants were asked to wear the prototype underwear for a period of 2 weeks, keeping a daily diary of leakage events for the first 7 days. They also completed validated instruments measuring lower urinary tract symptoms, health-related quality of life, and psychosocial impact.
Results:
On average, 86% of the time participants were alerted to pad leakage events. More than 90% thought the prototype underwear was "good" or "OK" and that it would or could give them more confidence. Mean scores for the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form indicated no change in the level of symptoms reported before or after the intervention, and no significant changes in health-related quality of life status occurred, except improvement in for travel restrictions. Evaluation via the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale also indicated a positive impact.
Conclusion:
The prototype underwear evaluated in this study was effective and acceptable for 5 out of every 10 wearers. Findings also suggest that the prototype underwear is suitable for women of all ages, dress sizes, and continence severity.
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