Assessment of a behavioural programme to treat incontinent patients in psychogeriatric wards

Abstract

Three female psychogeriatric wards were selected for the study of behavioural programmes for the incontinent. Ward A underwent the full package of environmental changes and toilet training at the patients' peak evacuation times. Ward B combined five weeks of two-hourly toileting with the environmental changes, whereas Ward C had only the environmental changes. The results showed that there was a small decrease in incontinence only when the full programme was implemented. The other two wards showed such a large deterioration of continence that the results on Ward A became significant in comparison with them. Variables such as age, cognitive state and length of stay had no effect upon the continence level at the end of the programme, whereas there was a clear association between the initial level of incontinence and the end results. The relevance of early treatment is discussed.