Using diapers through nursing interventions for psychiatric inpatients

This study aimed to determine how psychiatric inpatients came to use diapers through nursing interventions based on interviews with nurses working at psychiatric hospitals. The background for the 34 cases of patients who used diapers, described by interviews with 24 nurses, included：［therapeutic procedures that limit excretory function and movement］ ［difficulty with body movements owing to decline in physical function］ ［emergence of lower urinary tract syndrome］［impaired excretory movements owing to psychiatric symptoms］ and ［anxiety or concern about incontinence］.In total, 14 cases showed improvement, and the reasons for aiming to quit using diapers were ［consideration of family wishes and burden］ ［removal of physical restraint］［improvement of patient’s condition］［ patient’s wish to be independent in toileting］ and［ revisit the nursing plan］. Nursing and therapeutic issues included ［a lack of unified direction for the nursing team］ and ［therapeutic procedures that limit excretory function and movement］. The following measures led to improvement：［ minimizing the psychological and physical impact of diaper use on the patient］ ［building a cooperative relationship with the patient］ ［building a team for elimination independence］ ［care for lower urinary tract symptoms］ ［rehabilitation of elimination movements］［environmental adjustment and selection of elimination equipment for elimination independence］ and ［assessing the impact of drug therapy on daily life and suggesting its appropriate use］.