Continence and Men’s Health program to be broadcast
December 19, 2007A new Rural Health Education Foundation program to be broadcast on Tuesday 27th November examines issues relating to continence in the context of men’s health.
“Continence and Men’s Health” is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing as part of the National Continence Management Strategy.
The program will increase the understanding by health professionals of men’s continence and the need to be aware of a number of specific conditions and health problems. The program provides strategies for engagement, early intervention, treatment and incontinence management. It also explores strategies to overcome stigma and engage male patients and clients in their own treatment.
Featuring a panel of experts
This program is the first of a new three-part continence series and goes to air on the Foundation’s satellite network at 8.00pm (AEDT) on Tuesday 27th November, with a repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday 30th November.
The live program brings together a panel of experts chaired by Dr Norman Swan, presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National. Other panellists include:
- Dr Prem Rashid, Urologist, Port Macquarie NSW.
- Mr Peter Dornan, Physiotherapist, Toowong Rehabilitation Centre, QLD.
- Dr Trina Gregory, General Practitioner, Port Macquarie NSW.
- Virginia Ip, Clinical Nurse Consultant in Urology/Continence, Urology Care Coordinator, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney NSW
- Mr Steve Marburg, Continence Nurse and Coordinator National Continence Helpline, Continence Foundation of Australia.
Program consultant: Dr Jan Paterson, Associate Dean, Professor in Nursing, Flinders University, SA.
Included on the panel is Peter Dornan who has been a physiotherapist for more 35 years. After surgery for prostate cancer, he was left with a severe incontinence problem. Peter overcame that problem and developed a program that goes beyond basic pelvic floor exercises and has helped many others to regain control. He is the author of “Conquering Incontinence – a new and physical approach to a freer lifestyle.”
The program includes a filmed case study featuring the work of Canberra-based physiotherapist Irmina Nahon. She explains that “men with urgency or frequency problems need to learn how to develop good bladder habits. It’s often a question of mind over bladder”.
Are your pipes working?
Most men will be more worried about their household plumbing and less likely to check that their own plumbing is in order. They are even less inclined to talk to their doctor about any problems. It is those problems, if left untreated, which can often have a serious impact on their work, sporting activities, sex lives and lifestyles.
Barry Cahill, CEO of the Continence Foundation of Australia, urges men not to ignore bladder and bowel symptoms. “At any age, men are not particularly good at visiting their doctor, but poor bladder or bowel control should never be dismissed as just a small problem. Incontinence should never be ignored – it deserves careful attention from a health professional. It may be embarrassing, but if you get help it can be treated, more effectively managed and often cured.”
Don’t call a plumber, call a health professional
Incontinence in men is often related to prostate problems, with up to 60 percent of men experiencing problems following prostate cancer surgery. However incontinence is also usually symptomatic of other underlying problems and is common in other medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, constipation and chronic cough.
It is usually thought that only older men experience incontinence problems, but problems associated with an overactive bladder are often experienced by young men and those who have had poor bladder habits since childhood. Many men don’t realise that these are problems that can be easily treated.