Update on incontinence

Pharmacy teams are seeing more patients needing to buy pads and pants for urinary incontinence. This is due in part to an ageing population and a greater proportion of people who are overweight or obese. 

This module explains how to differentiate between the types of incontinence, when to refer for medical assessment and the practical advice that pharmacists can offer. It will also support the role of pharmacy teams in identifying unmet need, and signposting people if they have significant problems and have not yet had a formal assessment.

Contributing authors: Professor Alison Blenkinsopp OBE, FRPharmS, FFRPS, clinical specialist and educational adviser; Dr Martin Duerden FRCGP, medical adviser, diploma in therapeutics, Cardiff University.