Delaying voiding, limiting fluids, urinary symptoms, and work productivity: A survey of female nurses and midwives. (5th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pierce, Heather M.; Perry, Lin; Gallagher, Robyn; Chiarelli, Pauline
• Is Part Of: Journal of advanced nursing. Volume 75:Number 11(2019)
• Page Start: 2579
• Page End: 2590
• Publication Date: 2019-08-05
• Subjects: drinking behaviour -- fluid intake -- midwives -- nurses -- occupational health -- toilet facilities -- urinary bladder -- urinary incontinence -- workforce -- workplace; Nursing -- Periodicals; 610.7305
• DOI: 10.1111/jan.14128
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-2402

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: To examine the relationships between workplace bladder practices, urinary symptoms, and work productivity. Design: Cross‐sectional observational survey. Methods: Surveys were distributed June–November 2016 to at least 600 female nurses and midwives at three urban hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Nurses self‐reported restricted workplace access to toilets, delaying voiding, limiting of fluid intakes and urinary symptoms at work. Logistic modelling was used to examine whether nurses' bladder practices impaired their time management, ability to concentrate or perform physical demands. Results: Of 353 useable surveys, one in five nurses (22.4%; N = 79) reported restricted access to toilets at work, most (77.1%; N = 272) delayed voiding and one in four (26.9%; N = 95) limited fluid intakes to delay voiding at work. Almost half the sample had urinary symptoms at work (46.7%; N = 165); delaying voiding increased the likelihood of impaired mental concentration and limiting fluid intakes increased the likelihood of impaired time management. Conclusion: As workplace access to toilets and related bladder practices are modifiable, associated urinary symptoms and productivity loss may be preventable. Impact: Nurses' often experience restricted accesses to amenities due to job demands and workplace environments. The impact of nurses' poor bladder practices in the workplace is not known. In this study most nurses delayed voiding and many purposefully limited fluid intakes at work. These behaviours impacted a nurse's ability to manage time and/or concentrate at work. Results have implications for nurses' personal health, the design of workplace environments, workforce management, occupational health policy, and patient care. Abstract : 目的: 研究工作场所膀胱使用习惯、泌尿系统症状和工作效率之间的关系。 设计: 横断面观察调查。 方法: 调查于2016年6月至11月向澳大利亚新南威尔士州的三家城市医院里的至少600名女护士和助产士发放。护士自称工作时上厕所受限, 延迟排尿、减少摄入水分以及出现泌尿系统症状。逻辑模型被用来检验护士的膀胱使用习惯是否妨碍了她们的时间管理、注意力集中或满足生理需求的能力。 结果: 在35份可用调查中, 五分之一的护士(22.4%; 人数 为79人)报告工作时上厕所受到限制, 大多数护士(77.1%; 人数 为272人)会憋尿, 四分之一的护士(26.9%; 人数 为95人)会限制水分摄入来延迟排尿。样本中基本一半的护士在工作时出现了泌尿系统症状(46.7%; 人数 为165人);延迟排尿增加了注意力不集中的可能性, 限制水分摄入增加了妨碍时间管理的可能性。 结论: 因为工作时上厕所的情况和相关的膀胱使用习惯是可改变的, 所以相关的泌尿系统症状和生产效率的损失都是可以预防的。 影响: 由于工作需要和工作环境的原因, 护士们使用便利设施常常受到限制。护士们在工作场所时的不良的膀胱使用习惯会产生什么影响, 现在还不得而知。在本次调查中得知, 大多数护士在工作时会延迟排尿, 许多护士也会限制摄入水分。这些行为会对护士管理时间的能力产生影响, 以及/或影响她们集中注意力。研究结果对护士的个人健康、工作环境的设计、员工管理、职业健康政策和病人护理有一定的指导意义。