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Jockey Club-funded study proves incontinence therapy successful

12/17/2013

Jockey Club CADENZA Fellow Professor Claudia Lai, along with CADENZA Project Director Professor Jean Woo, today (17 December) announced the findings of Hong Kong’s first-ever prompted voiding study. The 31-month research on 52 elderly incontinent residents from five local nursing homes found that the behavioural therapy was effective in reducing incontinent episodes.

Professor Woo said: “CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors was initiated by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in view of the ageing population. One of its key elements is to groom gerontologists. I hope that CADENZA Fellows of different disciplines can proactively consider the needs of the elderly in their research and teaching. CADENZA Fellow Professor Lai’s prompted voiding study aims to find out a suitable behavioural therapy to manage incontinence in order to reduce elderly people’s reliance on diapers.”

Under the study held between January 2011 and July 2013, made possible by the Trust’s HK$1.26 million donation, half of the 52 participants aged 67 or above were randomly assigned to receive the prompted voiding treatment while the rest were in a control group. Those using the therapy were asked up to three times every two hours in the daytime if they needed to go to the toilet. They would be praised by trained carers should they agree to go and urinate.

The results showed that the urinary incontinence rate among those using the therapy had dropped from 72.6% to 58.7% six months later. The rate for non-users rose to 77.6%, up 11.6 percentage points over a six-month period. Moreover, the median number of times therapy users went to the toilet jumped to five from zero over six months.

Professor Lai said local nursing homes commonly used adult diapers to manage incontinence among their residents, but she noted that forcing the elderly to use diapers might affect their dignity and self-confidence, let alone skin irritation risks. To share the study findings and carers’ tips, 1,000 Trust-funded copies of a practical manual will be free for distribution to local social service groups upon request.

CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors is a project launched by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$380 million in 2006.  The project aims at nurturing academic leadership in gerontology and changing the mindset and attitude of the general public through a range of training and public education programmes. Cross-sectional collaboration between organisations and the implementation of innovative elderly services and programmes are also encouraged in order to bring about a new mode of elderly care services to prepare for a rapidly ageing society. To encourage gerontological research and nurture academic leadership in social gerontology, 30 academics and professionals have been trained as Jockey Club CADENZA Fellows since 2007. Details of Jockey Club CADENZA are available at http://www.cadenza.hk/.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world’s leading horse racing organisations, but also Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.95 billion in 2012/13. In addition, the Club is a major taxpayer, Hong Kong’s single largest by far, generating over HK$17.64 billion in 2012/13 for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.

Jockey Club CADENZA Project Director Professor Jean Woo hopes that CADENZA Fellows of different disciplines can proactively consider the needs of the elderly in their research and teaching.
Jockey Club CADENZA Project Director Professor Jean Woo hopes that CADENZA Fellows of different disciplines can proactively consider the needs of the elderly in their research and teaching.

Jockey Club CADENZA Fellow Professor Claudia Lai says prompted voiding is an alternative solution for managing urinary incontinence other than using diapers.
Jockey Club CADENZA Fellow Professor Claudia Lai says prompted voiding is an alternative solution for managing urinary incontinence other than using diapers.

Jockey Club CADENZA Project Director Professor Jean Woo (centre) joins Jockey Club CADENZA Fellows Professor Claudia Lai (third left) and Dr Mimi Tse (third right) as well as Jockey Club Executive Manager, Charities, Imelda Chan (second right), Caritas Fu Tung Home Social Work Supervisor Cynthia Lai (second left) and other guests to attend the sharing seminar-cum-press conference.
Jockey Club CADENZA Project Director Professor Jean Woo (centre) joins Jockey Club CADENZA Fellows Professor Claudia Lai (third left) and Dr Mimi Tse (third right) as well as Jockey Club Executive Manager, Charities, Imelda Chan (second right), Caritas Fu Tung Home Social Work Supervisor Cynthia Lai (second left) and other guests to attend the sharing seminar-cum-press conference.

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