Distance Learning: A Strategy for Improving Incontinence Care in Nursing Homes

• Published in: The Gerontologist 2010-02, Vol.50 (1), p.121-132
• Main Authors: Rahman, Anna N., Schnelle, John F., Yamashita, Takashi, Patry, Gail, Prasauskas, Ruta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Best Practices; Biological and medical sciences; Cost Effectiveness; Courses; Cues; Distance Education; Distance learning; Education; Education, Distance - standards; Education, Nursing - methods; Gerontology; Health Facilities; Humans; Intervention; Management; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Nurses; Nursing Homes; Nursing Homes - standards; Older people; Physiology; Program Effectiveness; Program Evaluation; Prompted voiding; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Sanitary Facilities; Strategies; Supervisors; Surveys; Teleconferencing; Tests; United States; Urinary incontinence; Urinary Incontinence - nursing
• ISSN: 0016-9013; 1758-5341
• DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnp126

Purpose: This article describes a distance learning model designed to help nursing homes implement incontinence management best practices. A basic premise is that translating research into practice requires both a feasible intervention and a dissemination strategy responsive to the target audience’s needs. Design and Methods: Over 8 months, nurse supervisors from 14 nursing homes in nine states learned how to implement prompted voiding during monthly 60- to 90-min teleconferences. Supervisors completed field assignments that required them to implement prompted voiding. Descriptive evaluation data were collected using a resident data form, pre- and posttraining quizzes, and a project evaluation survey. Results: Nursing home staff attended an average of 6.5 teleconferences; on average, three staff members typically attended each teleconference. Eighty-nine percent of all survey respondents (N = 28) reported that they (a) would participate in a similar project and (b) would recommend the course to colleagues. Average scores on the quiz increased 16% (p < .05) from pre- to posttraining. Collectively, participating facilities assessed a total of 261 incontinent residents and reported maintaining 117 (44.8%) on prompted voiding, for an average of 10 residents per facility. Implications: The intervention implementation results were promising for a management strategy often described as challenging to maintain. The distance learning model worked as expected. Given its strengths and relatively few weaknesses, it appears to be a feasible, effective, and low-cost strategy for translating research into nursing home practice.