Value-based procurement in practice: individualised holistic prescribing for incontinence containment pads

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Nursing

Background:

• Poorly managed incontinence negatively impacts care home residents' health and well-being.
• Generic continence product prescriptions fail to meet individual resident needs.
• Barriers created by the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated innovative solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a holistic product assessment tool for continence care.
• To facilitate personalized continence product prescriptions.
• To embody the principles of value-based procurement in continence product selection.

Main Methods:

• A holistic product assessment was conducted for residents with incontinence in six care homes.
• Personalized continence product prescriptions followed the assessments.
• Impact was measured via a 5-month record audit and a 5-day product trial before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• Personalized product use led to fewer leakages and reduced product change times.
• Carer satisfaction improved regarding product quality, ease of use, and handling.
• Record audits showed reductions in falls, hospital admissions, and urinary tract infections.

Conclusions:

• Holistic, individualized assessments for continence products benefit residents and services.
• This approach yields improvements in clinical, financial, and quality-of-life outcomes.
• Personalized continence care enhances resident well-being and optimizes resource utilization.