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Understanding Continence Promotion: Effective Management of Bladder & Bowel Dysfunction in Adults

Understanding Continence Promotion:
Effective Management of Bladder & Bowel Dysfunction in Adults

On this course you’ll learn how to recognise and assess the common conditions experienced. You’ll develop the skills to work with adults with different types of continence problems. You’ll also learn how to create effective management plans to treat the condition, and explore how to minimise the impact of these stigmatising conditions.

Please note that as of 6th June 2023, the Association for Continence Advice (ACA) has now changed its name to the Association for Continence Professionals (ACP). Some of the videos included in this module will still have the ACA branding, and we can confirm that these videos are still current.

Course Content

Welcome to the course

Introduction to Module 1 11 Topics

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1.1 – Capturing your thinking

1.2 – What do we mean by ‘continence’ and ‘incontinence’?

1.3 – Attitudes towards incontinence

1.4 – Incontinence is a ‘Big Issue’!!!

1.5 – How does a person’s bladder and bowel affect their life?

1.6 – Impact of bladder and bowel dysfunction on a person with spinal cord injury

1.7 – Impact of incontinence

1.8 – The continence paradigm

1.9 – Is incontinence inevitable and normal?

1.10 – Separating continence promotion from managing incontinence

1.11 – Reflection

Welcome to Module 2 14 Topics | 2 Quizzes

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2.1 – Anatomy of the lower urinary tract

2.2 – Lower Urinary Tract Quiz

2.2 – Lower Urinary Tract

2.3 – Male urethra

2.4 – Male urethral sphincters

2.5 – Female urethra and urethral sphincter

2.6 – The pelvic floor

2.7 – Pelvic floor muscles

2.8 – How continence is acquired and maintained

2.9 – Bladder cycle of filling and emptying

2.10 – Pressures acting on the bladder to maintain continence

2.11 – Innervation of the bladder

2.12 – Micturition control centres

2.13 – Check your understanding

2.13 – Check your understanding

2.14- Reflect on what you have learned

Welcome to Module 3 28 Topics | 1 Quiz

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3.1 – Causes of urinary incontinence

3.2 – Overactive bladder

3.3 – Case study: Joyce who has an overactive bladder

3.4 – How to diagnose overactive bladder

3.5 – Causes of stress incontinence

3.6 – Case study: Susan who has stress incontinence

3.7 – Underactive bladder

3.8 – Case study: Jean who has an underactive bladder

3.9 – Identifying an underactive bladder

3.10 – Bladder outlet obstruction

3.11 – Case study: James who has bladder outlet obstruction

3.12 – Reflex incontinence

3.13 – How neurological conditions affect bladder function

3.14 – Check your understanding

3.14 – Check your understanding

3.15 – Spinal cord injuries and the bladder

3.16 – Bladder dysfunction associated with Multiple Sclerosis

3.17 – Bladder dysfunction associated with Parkinson’s

3.18 – Bladder dysfunction after a stroke

3.19 – Bladder dysfunction with diabetes mellitus

3.20 – Transient causes

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Welcome to Module 4 24 Topics | 1 Quiz

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4.1 – Anatomy and physiology of the large bowel

4.2 – Functions of the large bowel

4.3 – Stool production: what is normal and what influences it?

4.4 – The structures involved in maintaining continence and defaecation

4.5 – Physiology of defaecation

4.6 – Extrinsic and enteric nervous systems

4.7 – Gastro intestinal Reflexes

4.8 – Check your understanding

4.8 – Check your understanding

4.9 – Faecal incontinence

4.10 – Common causes of faecal incontinence

4.11 – Gut motility, stool consistency and diarrhoea

4.12 – Anal sphincter and pelvic floor damage

4.13 – Ano-rectal pathology

4.14 – Rectocele

4.15 – Neurological bowel disease

4.16 -Autonomic dysreflexia

4.17 – Neurological levels associated with bowel disorders

4.18 – How neurological conditions affect bowel function

4.19 – Incontinence secondary to degenerative neurological disease

4.20 – Case study: Jim who has faecal incontinence

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Welcome to Module 5 15 Topics

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5.1 – Principles of assessment

5.2 – Components of a comprehensive bladder and bowel assessment

5.3 – Assessing bladder dysfunction – taking a history

5.4 – Assessing bowel dysfunction – taking a history

5.5 – Bladder diary analysis

5.6 – Urinalysis

5.7 – Bladder scanning

5.8 – Physical examination – female

5.9 – Digital vaginal assessment

5.10 – Physical examination – Male

5.11 – Digital rectal examination – men

5.12 – Assessing in practice

5.13 – Diagnosing type of bladder and/or bowel dysfunction

5.14 – The ‘Incontinence’ Poem

5.15 – Reflection

Welcome to Module 6 17 Topics

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6.1 – What does self-management of continence involve?

6.2 – Behavioural Intervention Groups

6.3 – Using ISC to self-manage bladder dysfunction

6.4 – Self-managing bowel dysfunction

6.5 – Evidence on effectiveness of lifestyle changes

6.6 – Fluid management

6.7 – What is behavioural therapy?

6.8 – Pelvic floor muscle exercises

6.9 – Bladder training

6.10 – Toileting Assistance Programmes (TAPs)

6.11 – Abdominal massage

6.12 – Electrical stimulation

6.13 – Medication

6.14 – Laxatives

6.15 – Challenges of bladder and bowel problems

6.16 – Promoting continence in people with dementia

6.17 – Reflection

Welcome to Module 7 8 Topics

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7.1 – Managing incontinence by containing leakage using absorbent products

7.2 – Managing urinary incontinence by containing leakage using indwelling catheters

7.3 – Exploring the effectiveness of health and social care support services

7.4 – Sharing ideas for service improvement

7.5 – Delivering better services for people with long-term conditions

7.6 – Facts and myths about effects of ageing on continence

7.7 – Is using the toilet a fundamental human right?

7.8 – Do bladder and bowels get sufficient media and government recognition?

Course Roundup 4 Topics

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7.9 – Thank you and goodbye

7.10 – Reflection

7.11 – Key resources to support effective management of bladder and bowel dysfunction

7.12 – Continue learning with the Association for Continence Professionals

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