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Absorbent Pads (absorbent + pad)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Management of night-time urinary incontinence in residential settings for older people: an investigation into the effects of different pad changing regimes on skin health

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2003
Mandy Fader BSc
Summary ,,Absorbent pads are the main method of managing urinary incontinence in residential settings for older people. ,,Improvements in technology have resulted in highly absorbent products which may be worn all night, but the effects of prolonged pad wearing on aged skin are unknown. ,,The aim of this study was to examine the effects of two different pad changing regimes on skin health. ,,A cross-over design was used. ,,Subjects from residential settings were randomly allocated to one of two pad changing regimes: a frequent pad changing regime or a less frequent pad changing regime. Each regime lasted 4 weeks and was followed by the alternative regime. ,,Skin measurements were taken twice during each regime using (i) the Diastron Erythema meter, (ii) a visual grading scale, (iii) the Servomed evaporimeter, and (iv) a pH meter. The primary outcome variable was the Diastron Erythema meter index. ,,Eighty-one subjects completed the study. ,,No significant differences were found in the severity of erythema, or skin pH, between regimes. Measurements of trans-epidermal water loss were significantly higher in the less frequent pad changing regime indicating that skin was ,wetter' (P = 0.01; 95% CI: 2.89,21.39). ,,Five subjects developed grade 2 pressure ulcers (abrasions) during the less frequent pad changing regime, but none in the frequent pad changing regime; this result was not significant (P = 0.1; 95% CI: 0,1.09). ,,No evidence was found that a less frequent pad changing regime has an effect on skin erythema or pH. ,,There is evidence that skin is wetter which may make it more vulnerable to friction and abrasion. ,,The statistically non-significant finding of greater incidence of grade 2 pressure ulcers is a cause for concern and merits further investigation because of the clinical significance of loss of skin integrity. [source]

Exploring the relationship between skin property and absorbent pad environment

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 11 2009
Yoshie Shigeta
Aim., The aim of this study is to identify the related factors of skin lesions found in the surrounding environment of absorbent pads by clinical investigation. Background., Most older patients with incontinence use absorbent products, therefore causing many patients to have skin lesion in the absorbent pad area. To prevent these skin lesions from occurring, it is necessary to examine the absorbent pad environment of clinical patients since there are many contributing factors that complicate the pathophysiology in this area. Design., A cross-sectional design was used. Methods., One hundred older Japanese patients with faecal and/or urinary incontinence using diapers and absorbent pads participated. Excluding blanchable erythema, the presence of skin lesions in the absorbent pad area was confirmed. Skin pH, hydration level and bacterial cultures were used to assess the skin property. Absorbent pad environment and patient demographics were also investigated. Results., The overall prevalence of skin lesions was 36%. Forty percent of the skin lesions were contact dermatitis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only the presence of diarrhoea independently affected contact dermatitis. Conclusion., There was a significant relationship between contact dermatitis and the use of absorbent pads when the patient had diarrhoea. Although the factors related to skin lesions in the absorbent pad area are complexly intertwined, this study was the first to be able to determine diarrhoea as one specific factor in clinical setting. Relevance to clinical practice., This finding suggests that the presence of diarrhoea is significantly related with contact dermatitis. Therefore, when a patient has diarrhoea, health-care professionals should immediately implement a preventative care program which includes careful skin observation and improved skin care. It is also necessary to develop a more effective absorbent pad to protect the skin of incontinent patients who suffer from the irritating effects of liquid stool. [source]

Informal Caregiving Time and Costs for Urinary Incontinence in Older Individuals in the United States

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 4 2002
Kenneth M. Langa MD
OBJECTIVES: To obtain nationally representative estimates of the additional time, and related cost, of informal caregiving associated with urinary incontinence in older individuals. DESIGN: Multivariate regression models using data from the 1993 Asset and Health Dynamics Study, a nationally representative survey of people aged 70 and older (N = 7,443). SETTING: Community-dwelling older people. PARTICIPANTS: National population-based sample of community-dwelling older people. MEASUREMENTS: Weekly hours of informal caregiving, and imputed cost of caregiver time, for community-dwelling older people who reported (1) no unintended urine loss, (2) incontinence that did not require the use of absorbent pads, and (3) incontinence that required the use of absorbent pads. RESULTS: Thirteen percent of men and 24% of women reported incontinence. After adjusting for sociodemographics, living situation, and comorbidities, continent men received 7.4 hours per week of care, incontinent men who did not use pads received 11.3 hours, and incontinent men who used pads received 16.6 hours (P < .001). Women in these groups received 5.9, 7.6, and 10.7 hours (P < .001), respectively. The additional yearly cost of informal care associated with incontinence was $1,700 and $4,000 for incontinent men who did not and did use pads, respectively, whereas, for women in these groups, the additional yearly cost was $700 and $2,000. Overall, this represents a national annual cost of more than $6 billion for incontinence-related informal care. CONCLUSIONS: The quantity of informal caregiving for older people with incontinence and its associated economic cost are substantial. Future analyses of the costs of incontinence, and the cost-effectiveness of interventions to prevent or treat incontinence, should consider the significant informal caregiving costs associated with this condition. [source]