Overview of Public Forums in
Raising Continence Awareness
for the Middle East
Diane K. Newman, RNC, MSN, CRNP, FAAN
Co-director, Penn Center for Continence and Pelvic Health
Division of Urology
Instructor, School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Diane K. Newman
Chairperson
Continence Promotion Committee
(CPC)
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Urinary Incontinence
A Hidden Condition
• Nearly two thirds of patients are symptomatic for
2 years before seeking treatment
• Many self-manage by voiding frequently, reducing fluid intake, and wearing
absorbent products
• Perceived as low priority by some primary
care providers
•  50% question patients about UI/Overactive bladder
• Only 40% of patients who do ask for
help get treatment suggestions
• Result: UI is under-reported and under-treated
Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
(Ricci, et.al.,Continence
2003)
Screening for Incontinence
Terminology
Understood
– Bladder Health
– Bladder Control
– Leakage
– Wetting
– Poor Bowel or Bladder
Not understood
Control
– Overactive Bladder
• Incontinence
• Continence
• Detrusor overactivity
• Anal incontinence
• Sphincter
incompetence
What are they?
Symptoms, syndromes, diseases?
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Factors Influencing Access to
Continence Services
BARRIERS
Beliefs About Causes
of Incontinence
Reactions of
Incontinence
Independent
Management
of Incontinence
Not Seeking Help
Attitudes to
Aging and Health
OPPORTUNITIES
Media
Influences
Contact with
Primary Care
Accessing Community
Continence Services
(Horrocks, et al 2004)
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Strategies to Raise Continence
Awareness throughout the World
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
International Continence Society (ICS)
Continence Promotion Committee (CPC)
• Principal aims:
– Identify opportunities for networking across various
countries
– Increase awareness amongst ICS members of
continence related issues
– Facilitate development of continence organisations
– Facilitate interchange of information
about continence awareness and
promotion
– Identify opportunities for continence prevention
strategies.
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
National Organizations - 2008
42 Organizations in 33 Countries
 AUSTRALIA
 BRAZIL
 COLOMBIA
 FRANCE
 INDIA
 ITALY (2)
 MALAYSIA
 NEW ZEALAND
 POLAND
 SWEDEN
 THAILAND
 AUSTRIA
 CANADA
 CZECH REPUBLIC
 HUNGARY
 INDONESIA
 JAPAN
 MEXICO
 NORWAY
 SINGAPORE
 SWITZERLAND
 UK (3)
 BELGIUM
 CHINA (Hong Kong)
 DENMARK
 GERMANY
 ISRAEL
 KOREA
 NETHERLANDS (4)
 PHILIPPINES
 SPAIN
 TAIWAN
 USA (4)
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum
Continence Promotion Committee of the ICS
• 2 global initiatives:
–Public Forum
• To be held in conjunction with the annual
ICS meeting
–Worldwide Continence Day
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Strategy to Raise Continence
Awareness throughout the World
Public Forum
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
What is a Public Forum?
• A “public meeting place for open discussion”
• Dates back to the Romans
– Used the public square or marketplace as an assembly
place for judicial activity
• Now a medium for open discussion or voicing of
ideas
• Usually involves a public meeting
– Presentation or a discussion among experts and often
including audience participation.
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum
Objectives
– Provide the general public with information
about urinary incontinence.
– Provide newly formed organizations with a
“ICS/CPC Public Forum” model for use in their
individual country Assist national
organizations with patient advocacy programs
– Foster collaboration among National
Organizations
– Increase the ICS’s profile with the public
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum
• Opportunity for the CPC and the
ICS to raise awareness and
discuss subjects relevant to the
area of Continence Awareness
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum
• Mission
• Blueprint – standardization of the Public Forum
model for use by CPCs
• Promote interaction between ICS organization
and public to raise Public (end-user) Awareness
• Bladder
• Bowel ??
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
CPC Public Forum
• Purpose
• “Raise Continence Awareness”
• Empower people to take control of their
bladder
•
•
•
•
•
Drive pts to providers
Involve pts
Learn about pts concerns - “stories”
Link ICS professional mtg with country
Increase ICS professionals interaction/involvement
with public/pt
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum
Target Audience
• Consumers/public
– Patients
– Professionals
– Carers (caregivers)
– Public officials
– Providers (doctors,
nurses, physios)
2007 CPC
Rotterdam Public
Forum
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Building the Agenda
USA-National Association For Continence
• LUT and Pelvic Floor
• The Female vs. Male
Bladder
• My Story…….
• Getting Diagnosed
• OAB/Nocturia
• Bowel Health
• Breakout Groups on SUI
& FSD and Male SUI &
ED
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum
Budget
• Expenses
– Advertisement
– Hall rental
– Refreshments
• Funding-Revenue
– Charge a modest “ticket-price” to consumers
– Donations
– ICS stipend
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Forum Specifics
• Title - Examples
– You and your bladder
– Incontinence- what to do?
– Is your bladder in charge of your life
– Is your bladder your boss?
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum Specifics
• Advertisement
• Format
• Speakers
2007 CPC
Rotterdam Public Forum
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum Specifics
Advertisement
• To Whom???
– Place on ICS & CPC website, local organ.
website, mtg website
– Flyer emailed to organizations
– Local Advertising in radio, newspapers
– Flyer/brochure/poster to:
•
•
•
•
•
Organizations
Pharmacists/GPs/Gyns/Midwives
Women’s groups/senior/residential centers
Industry contacts
Hospitals – Wellness programs??
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
2007 Rotterdam
Public Forum
Brochure
Native Language
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum
• Announcements
– Newspaper
•
•
•
•
Local/daily paper
Senior papers/journals
Ladies magazines
Health/sports newspapers/sections
• Radio Announcement
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum Specifics
Press Conferences
• ICS Announces Public
Forum @ press events
• Flyer in “press map”
announcing forum
• Article developed (press
release)-distribution to the
press
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum Specifics
• Format
– Moderator
• Volunteer -Local Official Welcome
• Public - Local medical TV woman
– Program
– Date, Day of Week, Length
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum Speakers
• Urologist/gynecologist Speakers
– Experience with consumer
audiences
– Warm and energetic personality
– Credentials that can be understood
and appreciated
– Diversity of skill sets (and
perspectives)
2007 CPC
Rotterdam Public Forum
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum Specifics
• Continence nurse
– Conservative/lifestyle changes
– Management of urine
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum Specifics
• Patient presenter
– Personal story
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum Specifics
• Extras
– Refreshments
• Beverages & cookies
– Door prizes
• Can they be awarded
• Give aways
2007 CPC
Rotterdam
Public
Forum
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Public Forum Specifics
• Provide for exhibits and
plenty of interaction
– Product Display
• Local industry
• Product Manufacturers
• Local Organizations
2007 CPC
Rotterdam Public Forum
Industry Table Tops
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
German Continence Day
June 30th, 2007 City
Your opinion is important!
We ask you to please fill in the questionnaire and returned at the end of the event
How did you hear?

Newspaper/magazin
 Radio/Television
 Internet
 Hospital/Surgery
 Pharmacist
 Physiotherapist
I live in …
 city
 city plus 10 km  city plus 20 km or more
Gender…
 Female
 Self-help group
 Male
Age in years…
 under 30  30 – 40
 40 – 50
 50 – 60
 over 60
 over 70
Have you heard previously about the German Continence Society?
 yes
 no
A personal problem
 yes
 no
If so, since when?  over 1 Jahr  1 - 2 Jahre  3-5 Jahre  over 5 Jahre
Under doctor’s care?
 yes
Were your expectations fulfilled?
 no
 yes
 no
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Thank you very much!
2008 Cairo
Public Forum
Friday, October 24th
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt
THANK YOU
Diane K. Newman
Chairperson
Continence Promotion Committee (CPC)
Continence Promotion Committee Workshop, International Continence Society – Cairo Egypt