ICONS II: Identifying Continence OptioNs after Stroke
Research type
Research Study
Full title
ICONS II: Identifying Continence OptioNs after Stroke randomised controlled trial
IRAS ID
235402
Contact name
Caroline Watkins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Central Lancashire
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN14005026
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
Half of patients admitted to hospital with a stroke suffer from urinary incontinence (UI). As well as involuntary loss of urine, symptoms include an urgent desire to pass urine (urge incontinence) or leaking urine when laughing or sneezing (stress incontinence). These symptoms are more severe in stroke survivors than in other people with UI and affect patients’ ability to take part in rehabilitation and whether patients are able to return home.
Many patients with stroke have urinary catheters inserted into the bladder to help with passing water. These are often not necessary and can lead to life-threatening infections.
We have developed a programme for assessing and treating UI. It includes:
1) bladder training, which encourages people to extend the time between voids and helps them regain bladder control;
2) prompted voiding, which aims to reduce incontinent episodes through verbal prompts to use the toilet and positive reinforcement from staff;
3) a plan to remove urinary catheters if they are not necessary.We will assess whether the programme works in reducing UI and whether it should be recommended for use in routine clinical practice.
We have four objectives. First, we will find out if it is possible to recruit enough patients and if we can make sure patients in the “usual continence care” group do not receive the intervention. Secondly, we will find out whether the programme reduces the severity of UI at 3 and 6 months after patients have been allocated to receive the intervention or usual care. Thirdly, we will find out how the cost of providing the programme compares with providing care in the usual way, and whether it is economical to provide it given the benefits to patients and their families. Finally, we will assess how the programme is delivered, for example how well the programme instructions are followed.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
18/WA/0108
Date of REC Opinion
22 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion