Continence clinic: positive outcomes difficulties encountered

This paper outlines the work of a community nursing development unit in relation to their role in health promotion and those patients suffering incontinence. The role of the nurse in health promotion has become fundamental in the new NHS in achieving the government health targets. It is well documented that incontinence is a huge problem that affects both men and women and unless a comprehensive package of care is made available many sufferers will go untreated. The underlying principles of many health promotion strategies involves changing behaviour, it is with this particular focus that district nurses at Yardley Green Nursing Development unit have attempted to understand why some patients’ progress with treatment better than others in terms of behaviour change. Patients attending a continence clinic demonstrated considerable improvement in their condition, however, the process of change is multifactoral and an increasingly complex problem providing a challenge for those involved.