Smart personalized continence care for people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: A theory with practice-based implementation guideline for a digital innovation

Vivette van Cooten*, Brigitte Boon, Marieke Gielissen, Inge Bongers, Ghislaine Van Mastrigt, Odile Smeets

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

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Abstract

Introducing smart technologies can personalize and improve continence care for people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities within residential care facilities. Currently, continence care is provided according to fixed schedules. This can lead to oversaturated incontinence materials, leading to leakages and an increased chance of incontinence-associated dermatitis or unnecessary changes. Both result in an unneeded burden for individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities and their caregivers. Smart technologies that notify caregivers when incontinence materials need to be changed can improve the quality of life for individuals experiencing incontinence and lead to a more efficient care process for their caregivers. Yet, implementation is challenging. We present a Guideline for Smart Continence Care (SCC) Implementation in Residential Disability Care. The guideline is systematically and iteratively developed by combining implementation literature and daily practice. Lessons learned from applying a draft version at six residential care facilities are integrated. Eight steps are identified and detailed to guide the SCC implementation process: (1) analyze and determine goals for each target group, (2) analyze the innovation, (3) analyze the context, (4) arrange preconditions, (5) formulate implementation strategy, (6) carry out and monitor the implementation, (7) evaluate and adapt implementation strategy, and (8) continued use and upscaling. The guideline is illustrated by examples from actual SCC implementation practice. This guideline is not only useful for those who lead the implementation of SCC in residential care, but may offer guidance for other care technology implementations in various care settings as well.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere70007
Number of pages21
JournalJournal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2025

Keywords

  • implementation guideline
  • Intellectual disability
  • practice
  • residential care
  • smart continence care
  • technology

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