These guidelines were developed as part of the NHS Executive Consensus Strategy for Major Clinical Guidelines. The methods used for the production of the guidelines were (i) a systematic review of the literature on incontinence and continence promotion and (ii) a multidisciplinary consensus conference of invited experts and clinicians in continence care and consumers of continence services.Since advances in health care may soon outdate current methods, the guidelines do not aim to direct the practitioner to specific named treatments. Rather, the aim is to aid clinicians in making decisions about purchasing and providing appropriate continence services in Primary Care.

Author Biography

Denise Button BSc(Hons), MSC, RN, RNT, Postgraduate student, School of Nursing Studies, University of Manchester. Formerly Project Officer, Castlefields Health Centre, Runcorn, Cheshire. Brenda Roe PhD, RN, FRSH, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Human Ageing, University of Liverpool. Formerly Senior Research Fellow, Health Services Research Unit, University of Oxford. Christine Webb BA (Hons), MSc, PhD, RN, RSCN, RNT, Professor of Health Studies, Institute of Health Studies, University of Plymouth. Formerly Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing Studies, University of Manchester. Tony Frith MB, ChB, MRCGP, General Practitioner, Castlefields Health Centre, Runcorn, Cheshire. David Colin-Thome MB, BS, FRCGP, D(Obst) RCOG, DCH, (Hon)MFPHM, General Practitioner, Castlefields Health Centre, Runcorn, Cheshire. Lance Gardner MSc, RN, RHV, NPDip, Professional Development Officer, Queens Nursing Institute and Salford Community Health Care NHS Trust. Formerly Business/General Manger and Nurse Practitioner, Castlefields Health Centre, Runcorn, Cheshire.