UNIS--A NURSING EXPERT SYSTEM FOR URINARY INCONTINENCE

THE SPECIFIC AIM OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF UNIS, A NURSING EXPERT SYSTEM, ON THE NURSING CARE OF PATIENTS WITH URINARY INCONTINENCE IN A NURSING HOME. UNIS WAS DESIGNED TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE REGARDING URINARY INCONTINENCE AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CARE PLANS FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS. URINARYINCONTINENCE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE ELDERLY, PARTICULARLY IN THE NURSING HOME. PROVIDING EXPERT NURSE CONSULTATIONS WITH UNIS COULD OFFER A NEW TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACH TO MEETING THE EXISTING KNOWLEDGE DEFICITS OF PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVERS ABOUT URINARY INCONTINENCE. TWO PARALLEL STUDIES WILL BE PERFORMED WITH INCONTINENT PATIENTS AND NURSE CAREGIVERS. THE FREQUENCY OF INCONTINENT EPISODES, THE NURSE'S KNOWLEDGE, AND CARE PLAN DEVELOPMENT WILL BE MEASURED REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT THE STUDY. THE ACCEPTABILITY OF THE SYSTEM BY NURSES WILL BE SURVEYED, AND CONSULTATIONS WITH UNIS WILL BE MONITORED. THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING EXPERT SYSTEM APPLICATIONS IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE NURSING HOME. THE INTEGRATION OF EXPERT SYSTEMS IN A NURSING HOME INFORMATION SYSTEM COULD PROVIDE COST-EFFECTIVE, ONGOING EXPERT CONSULTATION FOR NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH-CARE PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STATE AND FEDERAL REVIEWERS.