Using Prompted Voiding to Manage Urinary Incontinence in Nursing Homes: Can It Be Sustained?

Efficacy of Behavioral Interventions for Urinary Incontinence Among Women Residing in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize recent evidence on the efficacy of behavioral interventions for the management of urinary incontinence (UI) among women in nursing homes.

METHODS

Systematic review of the literature. For this review, behavioral interventions were defined as those that included some form of physical exercise or behavior modification such as scheduled toileting.

SEARCH STRATEGY

A search of MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Library electronic databases was conducted seeking randomized controlled trials published since 2010 in female participants residing in long-term care facilities (nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities) and diagnosed with UI. Inclusion criteria were studies that addressed the effects of voiding regimens, lower extremity strengthening, functional training, food and fluid management, and pelvic floor muscle training. Independent reviewers extracted relevant data and assessed methodological quality using the PEDro scale.

FINDINGS

Five studies (pooled sample, N = 399) met inclusion criteria; mean age of participants was 81.1 ± 6.8 years; 85% were female. The PEDro scores ranged from 6 to 9; only 2 studies included residents with cognitive impairment. Interventions included voiding strategies, increasing physical activity, functional mobility training, pelvic floor muscle training, fluid management, and multicomponent combinations of approaches. Three of the 5 studies were multicomponent interventions and 2 focused on a single intervention. Outcomes included objective measures of incontinent episodes and subjective assessments of UI severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Behaviorally based interventions can be successful in improving UI among nursing residents with and with no cognitive impairment.

IMPLICATIONS

Future studies should examine logistic and labor costs associated with sustaining behavioral interventions using nursing home staff and investigate the effects of these therapies using appropriate quality-of-life metrics for this population.

Standards and quality of care for older persons in long term care facilities: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Caring for older persons has become a global necessity to ensure functional ability and healthy ageing. It is of paramount importance that standards of care are monitored, especially for older persons who live in long term care facilities (LTCF). We, therefore, scoped and summarised evidence relating to standards and the quality of care for older persons in LTCFs in gerontological literature globally.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review using Askey and O'Malley's framework, including Levac et al. recommendations. PubMed, CINAHL, Health Sources, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched with no date limitation up to May 2020 using keywords, Boolean terms, and medical subject headings. We also consulted the World Health Organization website and the reference list of included articles for evidence sources. This review also included peer-reviewed publications and grey literature in English that focused on standards and quality of care for older residents in LTCFs. Two reviewers independently screened the title, abstract, and full-text of evidence sources screening stages and performed the data extraction. Thematic content analysis was used, and a summary of the findings are reported narratively.

RESULTS

Sixteen evidence sources published from 1989 to 2017 met this study's eligibility criteria out of 73,845 citations obtained from the broader search. The majority of the studies were conducted in the USA 56% (9/16), and others were from Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Norway, Israel, Japan, and France. The included studies presented evidence on the effectiveness of prompted voiding intervention for urinary incontinence in LTCFs (37.5%), the efficacy of professional support to LTCF staff (18.8%), and the prevention-effectiveness of a pressure ulcer programme in LTCFs (6.3%). Others presented evidence on regulation and quality of care (12.5%); nursing documentation and quality of care (6.3%); medical, nursing, and psychosocial standards on the quality of care (6.3%); medication safety using the Beer criteria (6.3%); and the quality of morning care provision (6.3%).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests most studies relating to standards and quality of care in LTCFs focus on effectiveness of interventions, few on people-centredness and safety, and are mainly conducted in European countries and the United States of America. Future studies on people-centerdness, safety, and geographical settings with limited or no evidence are recommended.

Health, social care and technological interventions to improve functional ability of older adults living at home: An evidence and gap map

Background

By 2030, the global population of people older than 60 years is expected to be higher than the number of children under 10 years, resulting in major health and social care system implications worldwide. Without a supportive environment, whether social or built, diminished functional ability may arise in older people. Functional ability comprises an individual's intrinsic capacity and people's interaction with their environment enabling them to be and do what they value.

Objectives

This evidence and gap map aims to identify primary studies and systematic reviews of health and social support services as well as assistive devices designed to support functional ability among older adults living at home or in other places of residence.

Search Methods

We systematically searched from inception to August 2018 in: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CENTRAL, CINAHL, PsycINFO, AgeLine, Campbell Library, ASSIA, Social Science Citation Index and Social Policy & Practice. We conducted a focused search for grey literature and protocols of studies (e.g., ProQuest Theses and Dissertation Global, conference abstract databases, Help Age, PROSPERO, Cochrane and Campbell libraries and ClinicalTrials.gov).

Selection Criteria

Screening and data extraction were performed independently in duplicate according to our intervention and outcome framework. We included completed and on-going systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials of effectiveness on health and social support services provided at home, assistive products and technology for personal indoor and outdoor mobility and transportation as well as design, construction and building products and technology of buildings for private use such as wheelchairs, and ramps.

Data Collection and Analysis

We coded interventions and outcomes, and the number of studies that assessed health inequities across equity factors. We mapped outcomes based on the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF) adapted categories: intrinsic capacities (body function and structures) and functional abilities (activities). We assessed methodological quality of systematic reviews using the AMSTAR II checklist.

Main Results

After de-duplication, 10,783 records were screened. The map includes 548 studies (120 systematic reviews and 428 randomized controlled trials). Interventions and outcomes were classified using domains from the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Most systematic reviews (n = 71, 59%) were rated low or critically low for methodological quality.The most common interventions were home-based rehabilitation for older adults (n = 276) and home-based health services for disease prevention (n = 233), mostly delivered by visiting healthcare professionals (n = 474). There was a relative paucity of studies on personal mobility, building adaptations, family support, personal support and befriending or friendly visits. The most measured intrinsic capacity domains were mental function (n = 269) and neuromusculoskeletal function (n = 164). The most measured outcomes for functional ability were basic needs (n = 277) and mobility (n = 160). There were few studies which evaluated outcome domains of social participation, financial security, ability to maintain relationships and communication.There was a lack of studies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and a gap in the assessment of health equity issues.

Authors' Conclusions

There is substantial evidence for interventions to promote functional ability in older adults at home including mostly home-based rehabilitation for older adults and home-based health services for disease prevention. Remotely delivered home-based services are of greater importance to policy-makers and practitioners in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This map of studies published prior to the pandemic provides an initial resource to identify relevant home-based services which may be of interest for policy-makers and practitioners, such as home-based rehabilitation and social support, although these interventions would likely require further adaptation for online delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to strengthen assessment of social support and mobility interventions and outcomes related to making decisions, building relationships, financial security, and communication in future studies. More studies are needed to assess LMIC contexts and health equity issues.

Efficacy of prompted voiding for reversing urinary incontinence in older adults hospitalized in a functional recovery unit: Study protocol

AIMS

To assess the efficacy of a prompted voiding programme for restoring urinary continence at discharge in hospitalized older adults who presented with reversible urinary incontinence (UI) on admission to a functional recovery unit (FRU). To assess the maintenance of the outcomes achieved after hospitalization. To identify modifiable and unmodifiable factors associated with the success of the prompted voiding programme.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental, pre-/post-intervention study without a control group.

METHODS

Participants were aged 65 and over with a history of reversible UI in the previous year who had been admitted to a FRU and were on a prompted voiding programme throughout their hospitalization period. The sample consisted of 221 participants. A non-probabilistic sampling method, in order of recruitment after signing the informed consent form, was used. The primary outcomes were UI assessed at discharge and 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after discharge. Funding was granted in July 2019 by the Spain Health Research Fund (PI19/00168, Ministry of Health). The proposal was approved by the Spanish Research Ethics Committee.

DISCUSSION

The prompted voiding programme described can reverse UI or decrease the frequency and amount of urine loss in hospitalized older adults.

IMPACT

Urinary incontinence is highly prevalent in hospitalized older adults. There is a need for care aimed at prevention, recovery and symptom control. Prompted voiding is a therapy provided by the nursing team during hospitalization and can also be provided by family caregivers at home after receiving proper training by the nursing team. Prompted voiding will enhance the health, functional ability and quality of life of older adults with UI, resulting in the reduction of associated healthcare costs and the risk of developing complications.

Unintentional body movement parameters and pulse rate variability parameters are associated with the desire to void

Urinary incontinence is highly prevalent in elderly populations with physical and cognitive impairment. For the assessment and care of urinary incontinence, the desire to void is important. We have developed a bed sensor system that non-invasively and unconstrainedly measures the parameter changes of unintentional body movements. This study is aimed to evaluate the validity of measurement by the sensor system and parameters in healthy adults. We conducted experiments on 29 healthy adult volunteers. The parameters were unintentional body movement derived from changes in center of gravity and pulse rate variability (PRV) based on pulse wave measurements using a finger probe; further the relationship between the desire to void and measured parameters were examined. The body movement parameters at the buttock and thigh were associated with the desire to void (p < 0.050). All the PRV parameters trended significantly with desire to void as well (p < 0.050). The parameters achieved sensitivities of 0.18-0.88 in estimating strong desire to void, and 7 among 14 sensitivity measurements included in the receiver operating characteristic analysis exceeded 0.70. The body movement parameters and PRV parameters were useful in the estimation of the desire to void in healthy adults. To achieve accurate estimation, a combination of the PRV parameters and body movement parameters is required.

[Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (LUTD) in institutionalized handicapped adults]

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence and the management of the lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) in institutionalized handicapped adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Descriptive transversal observational study. Epidemiological study.

RESULTS

In this study realized in 150 residents of 6 nursing homes for adult, the prevalence of LUTD in institutionalized handicapped adults was 88.67% (133/150). This prevalence was 91.36% (74/81) for women versus 85.51% (59/69) for men, (P=0.260); 93.33% (14/15) in medical housing units [foyer d'accueil médicalisé (FAM)] versus 88.15% (119/135) in specialized housing units [maison d'accueil spécialisé (MAS)], (P=1); 80% (52/65) for those who walked without technical support, 89.47% (17/19) for those who walked with technical support, 98.08% (51/52) for the wheelchair users who were not able to walk, and 92.86% (13/14) for those who were not able to walk or to use wheelchair, (P=0.004); 69.81% (37/53) for those who were able to signal the need to void versus 98.97% (96/97) for those who were not able, (P=0.0000003); 76.92% (50/60) for those who were able to realize the transfers independently, versus 97.65% (83/85) for those who were not able, (P=0.0002); 67.39% (31/46) for those who could dress and undress by themselves versus 98.08% (102/104) for those who could not, (P=0.0000002); 77.27% (17/22) for water intake>2L, 91.67% (55/60) between 1.5 and 2L, 87.5% (49/56) between 1 and 1.5L, and 100% (12/12) for water intake<1L, (P=0.170). The LUTD were more frequent in people with physical disability (OR=10.70[1.53-75.09], P=0.017), in those with mental disability (OR=5.85[1.39-24.67], P=0.016), and in those with urological comorbidity (OR=9.70[1.25-75.55], P=0.03). For the management of the LUTD, the prevalence of expert medical advice was 9.77%, 24.81% (33/133) for the further examination, 16.54% (22/133) for rehabilitation treatment, 6.77% (9/133) for drug treatment, 2.26% (3/133) for surgical treatment, and 82.71% (110/133) for medical device.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the prevalence of LUTD in institutionalized handicapped adults was 88.67%.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.