Monash University researchers are today launching the first co-designed resources to safely guide the use of urinary incontinence medications for people living with dementia.<\/p>\n
Doctors routinely prescribe medications to manage urinary incontinence, but the medications can carry hidden dangers for people with dementia, increasing the risk of side effects such as worsening memory loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the risks, the healthcare sector previously lacked evidence-based co-designed resources to help families and healthcare professionals decide when to start or stop treatment.<\/p>\n
Dr Amanda Cross<\/a>, who developed the 10 Guiding Principles with her team from the\u00a0Centre for Medicine Use and Safety<\/a>\u00a0at the\u00a0Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences<\/a>, said the resources aim to close the gap.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are multiple ways to approach incontinence care for a person living with dementia, but when medication is considered, it requires a very careful balancing act to ensure the benefits outweigh the risks,\u201d Dr Cross said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is often limited evidence to guide decision making for medication use for people with dementia, so the Guiding Principles help healthcare professionals navigate the difficult conversations.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Guiding Principles were also shaped by lived and living experience at every single stage \u2013 and were created to empower people living with dementia and their families to engage in shared decision-making with their healthcare team to ensure treatment aligns with the patient\u2019s individual care goals.\u201d<\/p>\n Launched to coincide with World Continence Week, a global campaign encouraging individuals to seek appropriate medical advice, the complete suite of resources is available\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0and includes:<\/p>\n 10 Guiding Principles to support the safe and appropriate use of medications for the management of urinary incontinence in people living with dementia \u2013 Healthcare professional version<\/p>\n 10 Guiding Principles to support the safe and appropriate use of medications for the management of urinary incontinence in people living with dementia \u2013 Consumer version<\/p>\n Medication summary table that compares safety and efficacy of medications for urinary incontinence for people with dementia, to be used together with the 10 Guiding Principles<\/p>\n The initiative was funded by a Dr Stuart and Bonnie Bartle Project Grant from the\u00a0Dementia Australia Research Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n