Better health and ageing for all Australians

Historical publications

Health Professional Education and Awareness Raising

Patient and Carer Self-reported Incontinence and Evaluation

In this section:

This project aimed to provide useful and user-friendly information on nocturia to health professionals and consumers. The purpose of this information was to increase awareness and knowledge on the issue of nocturia, in regard to risks associated with it and how to assess and manage it, amongst health professionals and consumers. In addition, it was hoped changes in practice by health professionals would also result because of this heightened knowledge about nocturia.

This project was an initiative of researchers from the Caulfield General Medical Centre. For more information on this project, please contact the centre on (03) 9276 6102.

The final report and guidelines may be downloaded in PDF format.

The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners (RACGP) has distributed clinical practice guidelines for managing incontinence in general practice. With 80% of the Australian population visiting a GP per year, they are ideally placed in the health system to assess and manage incontinence. These guidelines aim to improve the barriers to disclosure, and provide appropriate responses when continence problems are reported to GPs. The Guidelines are currently being distributed through interested Divisions of General Practice. A variety of educational resources and activities have been designed for the purpose of educating GPs about the prevalence, presentation, assessment, and management of both urinary and faecal incontinence. The national implementation of this educational program was coordinated by the WA Research Unit of the RACGP, with the assistance of the State-based Divisional organisations and 48 divisions of general practice, and is the subject of this report. The Australian Physiotherapy Association is currently undertaking an awareness program to educate and assist physiotherapists identify "at risk" clients, and to develop appropriate discussion strategies and a referral system.
If you are having problems downloading these PDF files please send an email to: acc@health.gov.au for a copy to be sent to you.
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