EVALUATION OF A NURSE-LED CONTINENCE SERVICE IN THE SOUTH-WEST OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND

This paper reports the results of a pilot study of a nurse-led contine nce promotion service in both the community and a local nursing home. Telephone and written referrals were made to the service fi om 28 prim ary care teams in Glasgow, Scotland. In the nursing home all patients were assessed and an appropriate management plan implemented. A full a ssessment was carried out in all community patients, including an appr aisal of contributory factors, urinalysis and diaries of food and drin k intake. A management plan suited to the patient was then implemented . Patients' levels of incontinence in both arms of the study were asse ssed objectively using the Lagro-Janssen method. The cost incurred in both arms of the study were measured, There was a 69% improvement in t he level of incontinence in the community group compared with 30% in t he residents wing and 13% in the hospital wing. The savings in the nur sing home amounted to pound 4152 in the residents' wing and pound 1959 in the hospital wing. In summary, a nurse dedicated to urinary incont inence in the community allows improved management, a greater level of awareness and results in resource savings, whilst increasing patient accessibility to a service.