Prostate Cancer UK Module 4 Phase 2: Development of a new garment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prostate Cancer UK Module 4: Development of an effective washable night-time absorbent pad for men. Phase 2: Development of a New Garment
IRAS ID
208585
Contact name
Mandy Fader
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 28 days
Research summary
Each year over one million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer worldwide and around 10 per cent of these are treated by major surgical resection of the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy). Immediately following prostatectomy it is normal for men to temporarily lose some degree of bladder control, and as the individual recovers, control is gradually regained until by around one year post-op 85%-90% of men will have regained almost total control. In the meantime, or permanently, these men need to manage their incontinence using products to minimise embarrassment, discomfort and inconvenience.
Many men choose to use disposable absorbents. In a previous study we found that men produce more urine than women at night and as a consequence their pads are more prone to leakage. However, we demonstrated a marked reduction in leakage rates when the same men used a terry cotton towelling square folded and held in place with a safety pin and worn with plastic pants. This was rated by the majority of the men as preferable to the disposable products, despite the fact that it was bulky, and aesthetically unattractive as it closely resembled a baby’s nappy.
Phase 1 of the current study undertook an appraisal of the market to discover if any available product could contain leakage as successfully as the terry towelling square worn with plastic pants. Although the products were more comfortable, easier to put on, and more aesthetically appealing, all of them were more likely to leak. We believe it is possible to design a new product which can meet all of these requirements, including satisfactory leakage rates, and this is the purpose of the proposed study. Our objective is to develop and test a prototype of a new product to the point where it can be brought to market to fulfil a long-overdue need.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0638
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jan 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion