Three demonstration projects will trial and test models of primary continence care to improve the access, treatment and assistance people receive from their general practitioners, pharmacies and continence advisers in the community. In Victoria, a third demonstration project is in the Eastern Hume region including Wodonga, Wangaratta, Indigo, Towong and the Alpine and Delatite Shires, and will be conducted by the Ovens and King Community Health Service. These three projects will run for a year and will be independently evaluated by the Newcastle Institute of Public Health, Newcastle University, to develop a model for national piloting. A project to investigate the reasons why people often do not seek help with symptoms incontinence will be undertaken by Adelaide consultants, Jenny Pearson and Associates. Many women who have symptoms after childbirth are unlikely to seek advice.
Many men are equally shy.
This project will seek information on the cultural, social and physical barriers to seeking treatment and will provide direction for future policy and planning about continence. Research Projects Mrs Bishop also announced three research projects. The first of these is a study on the prevalence of incontinence. The second project will assess the impact of incontinence on admission to residential aged care. This will be undertaken by Jenny Pearson and Associates.