What's involved in a continence assessment?
A continence assessment will involve you being seeing by a continence health professional. You will be asked to share your story, describe your bladder or bowel symptoms (what happens when you need to go to the toilet or have an accident) and asked to fill out a chart to show when you pass urine (wee) or have a bowel motion (poo) or have an accident. A physical examination is often needed, if you are comfortable with this, to help the health professional to know what kind of continence problem you have.
Once the type of incontinence and causes or reasons why you might be experiencing incontinence have been identified the continence health professional will develop a management plan with you to suit your goals and needs.
Questions asked
These are the sorts of questions that you may be asked during a continence assessment:
- How often do you go to the toilet?
- How much urine (wee) do you pass?
- Do you have to rush to the toilet?
- How often do you do to the toilet, including overnight?
- Do you have an accident on the way to the toilet?
- Do you leak when you cough, sneezing, exercise?
- What do your bowel motions (poo) look like?
- How often and how much do you leak urine or bowel motions?
- Do you use continence products, which and how many?
- What is your fluid and diet intake?
- What medications are you currently taking?
- Do you have any other health problems or conditions?
- Are you able to take yourself to the toilet, dress yourself and keep yourself clean?
Bladder and Bowel Charts
You will be asked to fill out a chart to keep track of when you go to the toilet to pass urine (wee) or have a bowel action (poo) or have an accident. Keeping a bladder diary for two to three days in a row or bowel diary for seven days in a row which will help a continence health professional when they assess you.