Introduction

Urinary incontinence (UI) is prevalent in more than 50% of nursing home residents. It significantly affects the quality of a resident’s life and is one of the most common complaints by family members. UI is often undertreated due to misinformation about the effectiveness and appropriateness of treatment options.

The Health care Financing Administration (HCFA) has required the use of the minimum data set (MOS) in all nursing homes to use in the assessment and care screening of all nursing home residents. The resident assessment protocols (RAP) are a subset of the MOS designed to ensure good clinical practice within a regulatory framework. Urinary incontinence is one of the RAPs in the MOS.

Drug Information Association (DIA), Seattle, Washington, May 2000

By Cynthia A. Walawander, MA, Thaddeus H. Grasela, PharmD, PhD