Establishing consensus on the appropriate selection of continence pads to achieve optimal care while reducing the risk of harm: part of a holistic approach for people with incontinence

Abstract

Background/Aims Continence conditions are a widespread and prevalent issue within the UK. However, provision of continence products are not distributed on an equitable basis across the country and often do not take into account patient-centric factors, such as quality of life and physical needs. The aim of this study was to establish the level of agreement held by UK healthcare professionals around the provision and selection of continence products and identify any areas where recommendations could be proposed to reduce harm to patients in relation to quality of life, mental health, skin health and patient wellbeing through the right choice of continence product. Methods A steering group of incontinence experts identified 50 statements impacting continence care. From this, an online survey was developed and respondents from across the UK were invited to rate their agreement with each statement. A modified Delphi methodology was used to review responses, with a threshold for consensus agreement set at 66%. Results A total of 181 responses were received. Overall, 39 out of 50 statements achieved very high consensus agreement (≥90%), nine statements achieved high consensus agreement (between 66% and 90%) and two statements did not achieve the consensus threshold but were over 60%. Conclusions The results demonstrated clear support among respondents for making improvements that focus on meeting the individual needs of the patient, which includes accurate, comprehensive continence assessment and product provision and mental health aspects, rather than budgetary concerns.