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 continence promotion service in both the community and a local nursing home. Telephone and written referrals were made to the service from 28 primary care teams in Glasgow, Scotland. In the nursing home all patients were assessed and an appropriate management plan implemented. A full assessment was carried out in all community patients, including an appraisal of contributory factors, urinalysis and diaries of food and drink intake. A management plan suited to the patient was then implemented. Patients' levels of incontinence in both arms of the study were assessed objectively using the Lagro-Janssen method. The cost incurred in both arms of the study were measured. There was a 69% improvement in the level of incontinence in the community group compared with 30% in the residents wing and 13% in the hospital wing. The savings in the nursing home amounted to Pounds 4152 in the residents' wing and Pounds 1959 in the hospital wing. In summary, a nurse dedicated to urinary incontinence in the community allows improved management, a greater level of awareness and results in resource savings, whilst increasing patient accessibility to a service.