1.   List and define the two categories of incontinence. This one is fairly obvious, but we will be discuss both urinary and fecal incontinence so you have a better idea of what they are, what can cause them, and what the consequences are of leaving them unchecked.

2.   List at least three steps for assessing incontinence. The assessment is the key to proper management. And we will even examine the single most common mistake often associated with the assessment.

3.   Identify two potential complications of incontinence. Incontinence can cause a lot of problems for your patients, and we will take a look at some of the more common ones.     

4.   Describe two strategies to improve continence care. And this is the meat of the presentation. How to improve continence care. We will examine a few different strategies.

 

Definitions

We’ll frame our discussion by providing some broad definitions for the different types of incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is the unintentional loss of urine or the inability to hold urine in the bladder due to a loss of voluntary control over urinary sphincters. The classic definition of incontinence is the inability to control the time and place of voiding resulting in the involuntary loss of urine. We will discuss the types of urinary incontinence in a few moments.

Urinary incontinence Fecal incontinence Dual incontinence

Fecal incontinence may be known as accidental bowel leakage, which includes passing solid or liquid stools from the anus. This type of incontinence can range from the occasional unintentional leakage of stool while passing gas--to a complete loss of bowel control. Fecal incontinence may appear temporarily during bouts of diarrhea. For some, fecal incontinence may be recurring or chronic.

Dual incontinence involves both urinary and bowel incontinence. Dual or “double” incontinence can lead to an even greater compromise to the patient’s general well-being and a diminished quality of life.