Sign in Subscribe
Clinical trials

Smart Continence Care for People with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted at Maastricht University, in collaboration with Dutch care organizations, has explored the potential benefits of smart continence care (SCC) for individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. The study, which used a cluster randomized trial design, investigated the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of SCC compared to regular continence care (RCC). The results suggest that SCC may not be as effective in reducing leakages as previously thought, but it does offer several benefits, including reduced time spent on continence care.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that SCC was less effective in reducing leakages compared to RCC, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in the northwest (NW) quadrant of the cost-effectiveness plane.
  • SCC was found to be more costly than RCC, with an estimated cost of US $371 per participant, although sensitivity analyses suggested that a new pricing model from the supplier may reduce estimated total societal costs.
  • Cost-utility analyses showed a high level of uncertainty, with results in both the NW and northeast quadrants.
  • Scenario analysis suggested that implementation challenges were responsible for the negative effect on leakages.
  • Sensitivity analyses showed that SCC was effective in reducing the number of weekly incontinence material changes (IMCs), but not in reducing time spent on continence care.
  • The study highlighted the need for tailored approaches to implementation, given the individual variability observed in the study.

Statistics:

  • The study included 74 participants in the RCC group and 82 participants in the SCC group.
  • The study period was 12 weeks.
  • The estimated cost-effectiveness ratio for SCC was US $371 per participant.
  • The sensitivity analyses suggested that the new pricing model from the supplier may reduce estimated total societal costs.
  • The study reported a high level of uncertainty in cost-utility analyses.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Researchers from Maastricht University Describe Findings in Clinical Trials and Studies (Smart Continence Care for People With Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities Within Dutch Residential Care Facilities: Economic Evaluation Alongside a Cluster Randomized Trial). Journal of Engineering. October 20, 2025; p 2707.
  • Smart Continence Care for People With Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities Within Dutch Residential Care Facilities: Economic Evaluation Alongside a Cluster Randomized Trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2025;27.

Journal of Medical Internet Research can be contacted at: Jmir Publications, Inc, 130 Queens Quay East, Unit 1100, Toronto, On M5A 0P6, Canada.

Additional authors for this research include Vivette Jc van Cooten, Andrea Gabrio, Silvia Maa Evers, Marieke Fm Gielissen and Brigitte Boon.

Read more