Technology for managing incontinence: What are the research priorities?

Incontinence and toileting difficulties can often be successfully addressed by treating their underlying causes. However, (complete) cure is not always possible and continence products to prevent or contain unresolved leakage or to facilitate toileting are in widespread use. Many people use them successfully but identifying the product(s) most likely to meet individual needs can be challenging and the recently published Seventh International Consultation on Incontinence includes a chapter which draws on the literature to provide evidence-based recommendations to help clinicians and product users to select appropriate products. This paper is based on the same evidence, but reviewed from the different perspective of those keen to identify unmet needs and develop improved products. For each of the main continence product categories it (i) outlines the design approach and key features of what is currently available; (ii) provides a generic functional design specification; (iii) reviews how well existing products meet the requirements of their main user groups; and (iv) suggests priorities for the attention of product designers. It also flags some core scientific problems which - if successfully addressed - would likely yield benefits in multiple incontinence product contexts.

Review of the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence: Primary prevention of urinary incontinence.

AIMS: To report the state of the science on primary prevention of urinary incontinence (UI) in adults from the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence with an update through January 2019. METHODS: Online databases PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Medline were searched in March 2016 and February 2019 with a focus on literature published after 2010. The International Consultation on Urological Diseases modified Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence and grades of recommendation were used to evaluate the literature. RESULTS: Grade B recommendations to prevent UI in pregnant and postpartum women are available and promising evidence exists for educational interventions to prevent UI up to 2 years in older women. There is little evidence for adding preoperative pelvic floor muscle exercises to postprostatectomy pelvic floor muscle exercises for men to regain continence. Insufficient evidence exists for the effectiveness of screening for UI in women. The absence of information on primary prevention remains for adolescents, nulliparous and perimenopausal women, and middle-aged and aged men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Few primary prevention interventions for UI exist for specific populations, especially pregnant and postpartum women. Research interest in developing foundational knowledge to design these interventions is growing.