Book Review
The promotion of continence in adult nursing
David Colborn
ISBN: 978-1-565931923 1993 172 pages Chapman Hall, United Kingdom
Margaret Southwell
Repatriation General Hospital, Adelaide SA
Continence promotion and the appropriate management of incontinence, is receiving more emphasis in the clinical area today; especially with the introduction of casemix and short-term hospital stays. Lecturers are also ensuring that under-graduate nurses develop a sound awareness of the causes and management of urinary and faecal incontinence, and the role of the continence nurse advisor.
Colborn's book is a useful addition to any nurse's library wishing to develop an increased knowledge in continence promotion. As a clinician and lecturer in London, Colborn's aim is for nurses to use this book as a reference text. To this end, there are clearly indexed problems and appropriately marked chapter headings.
Definitions of the problem of incontinence in Chapter one, also includes the attitudes and the effects and feelings impounded on those affected. The following chapter on urine production and the physiology of micturition, is written clearly and concisely using descriptive language. The later chapters include assessment, the differing types of incontinence, environmental and social factors and advice for starting one's own program as a continence nurse advisor. The quantity of information contained is remarkable and it is therefore a good reference text.
A clear, concise description of continence problems with a problem-solving approach to care is used. Some specific problems for community care and hospital patient care outlined, include, care of an atonic bladder with or without an indwelling catheter, sex and incontinence, drug induced incontinence, faecal incontinence with nursing intervention, aids to pelvic floor training, and education in invasive procedures and urodynamic investigations.
Although written for nurses in the United Kingdom, the book is most relevant to Australian standards and the practices are similar. Overall, this book provides a valuable resource for students and advanced practitioners of nursing in the field of continence promotion. It is therefore highly recommended.
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