The study was conducted by AGE Platform Europe, a European network representing over 40 million older people in Europe, and SCA. Entitled Management for Containment - A review of current continence care provisions, the study was conducted amongst people with incontinence and informal carers in six regions in Germany, Poland, England and Spain. It aimed to provide an understanding of the existing knowledge patients and carers had about the containment products that are available, and to what extent they were involved in the decision about which product type to use.
The main findings of the study were:
- 1 in 4 said the product type offered did not always sufficiently support them when taking part in the activities of daily life
- 43% felt that their product type did not always sufficiently support them when taking part in work activities
- 41% experienced disturbed sleep due to product type
- Nearly 40% felt they had no choice on what product type they could use
- 3 out of 4 needed to pay for additional products themselves
"In today's context of demographic ageing, it is increasingly important to take action to ensure that the support for managing incontinence fully meets the individual's needs and preferences", Anne-Sophie Parent, Secretary General of AGE Platform Europe, said. "There is a lot of room for improving the care of people with incontinence by involving them much more in the decision-making when selecting containment products".
The study highlighted three key factors that could lead to greater user independence and satisfaction in daily management:
- information and knowledge about the different product types
- involvement in selecting the type of product
- tailored funding provisions based on patient profiles and needs