Continence Care for Obese Nursing Home Residents

Christine Bradway; Elizabeth Miller; Amy Heivly; Irene Fleshner

Abstract

Purpose Specific aims of this study were to describe 1) demographic characteristics and co-morbid conditions of obese nursing home residents, 2) current nursing care practices related to continence care in obese nursing home residents, 3) licensed and unlicensed nursing caregivers' reports of continence care issues they experience with obese nursing home residents, and 4) continence care issues reported by obese nursing home residents.

Methods This exploratory, descriptive study used a mixed-method design, including medical record review, case-intensive elicitation interviews of licensed and unlicensed nursing staff caring for obese nursing home residents, case-intensive elicitation interviews of obese nursing home residents, and direct observation of care between licensed and unlicensed nursing staff and obese nursing home residents.

Data Analysis Descriptive statistics were used to analyze medical record data and describe the study sample. Interview, observational data, and investigator memos and field notes were analyzed using content analysis.

Findings The five nursing home residents who participated in the study had a mean age of 65 years, a mean weight of 323 pounds, and a mean body mass index of 53. Three of the five residents were dually incontinent (urinary and fecal incontinence), two residents were continent, and all five required special equipment for nursing care. Eight licensed and unlicensed nursing staff participated in the study. Three primary themes emerged from interview and observational data with regard to continence care: "obese and incontinent day to day," "fitting in the environment," and "it's rough…but we want to do it."

Sumber: Published by: Urol Nurs. 2010;30(2):121-129.