Urinary incontinence post-stroke: a qualitative exploration of the multidisciplinary management in the acute stage post-stroke.

PURPOSE: To explore how staff on a hyperacute/acute stroke unit in the United Kingdom (UK) perceived the management of urinary incontinence (UI) and their role within this.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Qualitative exploration using questionnaires and interviews. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and themes were identified using framework analysis.

RESULTS

Analysis of 43 questionnaires and 5 follow-up interviews identified 3 themes: "A focus on containment and the impact of UI on patient well-being," "Invisibility of UI as a rehabilitative goal," and "Readiness for change with recognition of the value of multidisciplinary working for UI rehabilitation."

CONCLUSIONS

Staff across all professional groups considered UI an important problem to address post-stroke. In contrast to other aspects of stroke rehabilitation, UI is less visible, despite staff recognising the impact of communication, cognition and sensorimotor deficits on this problem. Greater interprofessional working and goal setting may support a more rehabilitative continence culture.