Hi-R-Ed Online

Resources

•National Association for Continence: www.nafc.org

•Wound Ostomy & Continence Nurses Society: www.wocn.org

•Medical Supplies companies

•Pharmaceutical companies

•Managing and Treating Urinary Incontinence, Diane Kaschak, Health Professions Press

•Essentials of Clinical Geriatrics, 5th Ed. Kane, Ouslander, & Abrass McGraw Hill

The two organizations listed can provide you with additional information on overactive bladder. In addition, the WOCN has a terrific journal that frequently features articles on overactive bladder and incontinence. Medical supply companies can help you with appropriate product selection. Pharmaceutical companies can provide additional support for their drugs and, like the medical supply companies, have a host of patient education materials available on their websites. A wonderful easy-to-read resource is Managing and Treating Urinary Incontinence by Diane Kaschak Newman, RN from Health Professions Press, and is recommended reading.

Summary

•OAB is common

•OAB is costly

•OAB is treatable

We have discussed the syndrome of overactive bladder which is characterized by the symptoms of urgency, frequency and nocturia. It is a common problem, with an estimated 34 million people suffering from it in the United States. Overactive Bladder is costly in terms of its devastating effects on quality of life and related sequelae of falls and fractures, skin breakdown and urinary tract infections. OAB can be successfully managed with behavioral and pharmacological interventions. However, for that to happen, it all needs to start with you asking your clients some very simple questions. Do you have a sudden, strong urge to urinate? How often do you go to the bathroom during the day? How many times do you wake up in the night to urinate? Is it the urge to urinate that wakes you up? Those simple questions can be the prompt to encourage people to get the help they need to understand and manage their condition.

Rick Fields-Gardner