Katherine Moore, PhD, RN, CCCN, University of Alberta, Professor, Faculty of Nursing 3rd floor clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G3, Canada, Karen Murphy, BScN, University of Alberta Hospital, Clinical Nurse Educator Urology, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G3, Canada, and Elizabeth Smits, RN, University of Alberta Hospital, Manager Urology Unit, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G3, Canada.
Non sterile leg bags are used for urine collection for patients with indwelling catheters or condom drainage. At one Alberta hospital, current leg bag has latex straps, non-coated backing, and a cap which snaps on to the drainage spigot. Dermatitis, leg blisters, and spigot cap loss are reported. An alternate latex free product has cloth backing, flexible tubing and cloth leg straps. In this study we evaluated skin health and subject satisfaction with two leg bags currently on the market. Design: Randomized, cross-over study; men post radical prostatectomy tested each product for 4-5 days. Inclusion criteria: read and spoke English; no latex allergy, good manual dexterity, no altered mental status. Ethical approval received from the University of Alberta HREB. Sample Size: Setting alpha at 0.05 for 1-tailed t-test and power at 0.80, the sample size would be 20 per group. Procedure On postop day (POD) 2, subjects were randomized to leg bag A (Latex based/latex straps) or leg bag B (latex free, cloth backing, elastic straps). Subjects rated products on POD4 and 8. Study endpoints were any skin irritation with either product. POD10, subjects were telephoned and asked their view of skin health and satisfaction with the two products. Any subject who described skin irritation was visited by the research nurse in his home and the area photographed with a digital camera. Outcomes measures: Skin Health Questionnaire and Leg Bag Product Satisfaction on POD4 and 8. Face and content validity for the questionnaires were achieved with leg bag users and healthcare professionals; questionnaires were pilot-tested with men meeting study inclusion criteria. Data Analysis : Non-parametric and parametric statistics as indicated. Subjective comments will be compiled and organized according to themes. Results: Study in Progress--to date 30 men randomized. Completion in March 2007. Results will be presented at the conference.
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See more of The WOCN Society 39th Annual Conference (June 9 -- 13, 2007)