The hidden role of the occupational therapist in the management of continence

Abstract

This article describes a collaborative project, ‘PromoCon Education and Integration’, between PromoCon and the University of Salford. A national survey questioned occupational therapists on their opinions as to whether they had a role in continence care for people with disabilities. Is the promotion of continence part of an occupational therapist's role? The results of the survey were analysed and findings highlighted a need for additional training in continence management, but were not explicit as to the types of training needed. A series of structured focus groups explored these findings further to identify that the majority of therapists relied heavily on self-teaching to develop specialist skills within continence management and there was definite support for the inclusion of continence care issues in occupational therapy undergraduate programmes. Therapists felt that delivering education at an undergraduate level would ensure that all newly qualified therapists have the knowledge they require to include assessment offunctional continence within their remit, thereby meeting the functional and psychosocial needs of individuals with continence problems.