Online resources for urinary incontinence

Online resources for urinary incontinence

RESOURCES research and influencing policy-makers and service providers. Detailed fact sheets can be downloaded from the website, covering topics such...

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RESOURCES

research and influencing policy-makers and service providers. Detailed fact sheets can be downloaded from the website, covering topics such as ‘Advice for relatives’ and ‘The confused incontinent person at home’. The website also includes a comprehensive directory of over 2800 incontinence products available on the UK market. The Continence Foundation Helpline provides assistance by phone, letter and email to over 10,000 people a year.

Online resources for urinary incontinence

The Cystitis and Overactive Bladder Foundation www.cobfoundation.org This charity was set up in 2003 (previously the Interstitial Cystitis Support Group) and received a grant from the Department of Health to enable expansion of its work. Quarterly newsletters containing up-todate information on treatments are are produced by the charity, and a forum for members to write about their own experiences of cystitis and overactive bladder is provided on the website.

General BestTreatments www.besttreatments.co.uk BestTreatments is owned and produced by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and aims ‘to provide patients, doctors and other health care professionals with the highest quality information based on the latest research evidence’. The area of the website created for patients contains detailed information on stress incontinence, including prevalence, risk factors, diagnosis and surgical and non-surgical treatments. Instructions for performing pelvic-floor exercises are also included.

For professionals Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists www.rcog.org.uk The RCOG have produced a set of guidelines for healthcare professionals on the surgical treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence, which can be downloaded from their website.

Embarrassing Problems www.embarrassingproblems.co.uk This website is provided by Health Press Ltd. The section on urinary incontinence provides useful, accessible information on how the bladder works and why incontinence occurs, and some useful advice on living with urinary incontinence. Bedwetting in teenagers and adults is also discussed.

The International Continence Society www.icsoffice.org The primary interest of the ICS, founded in 1971, is to study storage and voiding function of the lower urinary tract, its diagnosis and the management of lower urinary tract dysfunction, and to encourage research into pathophysiology, diagnostic techniques and treatment. Neurology and Urodynamics is the official journal of the ICS.

Incontact www.incontact.org This website is provided by Incontact, a registered charity and a national organization providing information and support for people with bladder and bowel problems, their carers and health professionals.

For the elderly Alzheimer’s Society www.alzheimers.org.uk

Prodigy www.prodigy.nhs.uk/PILs/

The Alzheimer’s Society provide a fact sheet on incontinence in the care of someone with dementia, which includes a list of useful strategies and dealing with feelings concerning personal hygiene.

Prodigy is based at the Sowerby Centre for Health Informatics at the University of Newcastle, and is funded by the NHS Executive. Patient information leaflets are available for stress and urge incontinence; both include a useful section entitled ‘Understanding urine and the bladder’, which contains clear diagrams. Lifestyle advice, such as limiting caffeine intake and making access to a toilet as easy as possible is included, along with links to sources of further help and information.

Help the Aged www.helptheaged.org.uk This website contains a large amount of useful information concerning incontinence in the elderly, including explanations of the different types of incontinence and statistics on the percentage of the population affected. A link to a 21-page leaflet on bowel and bladder weakness is also included.

PromoCon www.promocon.co.uk PromoCon is a registered charity providing a national service as part of Disabled Living Manchester, through offering information and advice to professionals and the general public. The website includes detailed information about products available for the management of incontinence.

For teenagers trusteric www.trusteric.org This website for young people between the ages of 13 and 17 who experience occasional or regular episodes of bedwetting or daytime wetting has been produced by Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC). The site provides leaflets, an FAQ section and a message board. Visitors to the website can also email a trained helpline adviser in confidence. 

The Continence Foundation www.continence-foundation.org.uk The Continence Foundation is dedicated to providing information and advice, raising awareness about bladder and bowel problems, promoting

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