PELICAN
Who are we?
PELICAN is a hub of the Ageing Well research group within the Research Centre for Health at Glasgow Caledonian University. The hub is open to all with an interest in research and practice relating to the pelvic floor, bladder and bowel health and continence. Current membership is multidisciplinary and includes representation from staff and students across the University.
Our current research investigates a wide range of interventions for the many people living with problems of the pelvic floor, bladder and bowel, which are stigmatising and greatly impact the quality of life. We conduct evidence syntheses, develop outcome measures, and deliver multicentre trials and qualitative studies focused on these areas.
What is our purpose?
The aim of the PELICAN Hub is to facilitate collaboration and support research in this important area, but also to gather together and highlight our expertise and methodological strengths. We aim to provide opportunities for researchers to share their work and develop links and collaborations across the University and externally, both nationally and internationally.
Developing links and collaboration is achieved through regular meetings. The hub also hosts seminars with internal and external speakers.
If you would like to find out more or get involved, please contact Professor Suzanne Hagen.
Projects
CaDeT
CaDeT is a randomised controlled superiority trial which aims to determine whether the Optitip catheter provides a clinically and cost-effective alternative to the traditional ‘Foley’ style catheter for community-dwelling adults requiring long-term urinary urethral catheterisation.)
STARTUP
Parkinson’s disease is characterised predominantly by motor complaints of bradykinesia, rigidity, rest tremor and gait disturbances. However, non-motor symptoms are a common accompaniment and lower urinary tract symptoms are reported in 38-71% of People with Parkinson’s (PwP) and are an important cause of morbidity and have an immense impact on early institutionalisation and health-related costs. The STARTUP trial will:
- Conduct a randomised controlled trial targeting PwP who have self-reported problematic LUT symptoms, investigating the effectiveness of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) to sham TTNS.
- Implement a standardised training approach and package (already developed) for the correct application of TTNS.
- Conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis to explore the potential for TTNS to be cost-effective in PwP.
- Assess fidelity to the TTNS intervention and any research participation effects in the intervention and placebo stimulation groups.
SUCCESS
The aim of the SUCCESS (Strategies Used for Constipation in Children – Evidence Synthesis involving Stakeholders) study is to determine the most effective interventions, and combinations and sequences of interventions, for chronic functional constipation in children, and how they can best be implemented.
TOPSY
The TOPSY study aims to assess if self-management of prolapse using a vaginal pessary is more effective at improving women's quality of life than standard follow-up care. Women with any severity or kind of prolapse will be invited to take part in the study as long as they have successfully used a pessary for at least two weeks. An eligible woman who provides written consent will be assigned randomly to either a self-management or standard care group. Women in the standard care group will be seen every six months in a hospital or community clinic for pessary removal and reinsertion. Women in the self-management group will have a 30-minute appointment with a specialist nurse or physiotherapist to ensure they know how to change and clean their pessary and to allow them time to practice. They will still be fully supported by the clinical team should they require assistance. All women will be followed up for 18 months and we will compare the quality of life and other outcomes in the two groups.
Toilet Training and Learning Disabilities
Incontinence is a common problem for adults with learning disabilities. About one-third of adults with learning disabilities experience urinary incontinence; around 60% of whom also experience bowel incontinence. Incontinence affects health and well-being. Urinary incontinence in particular has been found to be a risk factor for falls, mental ill health and behaviours that challenge adults with learning disabilities. Incontinence is an issue which may be addressed in individuals with learning disabilities (for example, as a result of developmental delay or ageing).
In keeping with current recommendations for the treatment of incontinence in adults with learning disabilities, this study aims to promote prompted voiding in a toilet (with the assistance of toilet alarms) and habit retraining, with 30 adults with learning disabilities with incontinence. All participants will be invited to tell us about their toileting needs, and then complete a 12-week personalised positive toilet training plan.
This research study is being conducted by researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University, in collaboration with a research colleague at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent, in Canterbury. Adults with learning disabilities with incontinence who live in NHS Greater and Glasgow and NHS Lanarkshire regions, and who are currently receiving care or support from a community learning disability health professional (e.g. community nurse), are eligible to take part. If you would like more information about this research study or have questions, then please contact Paul Ord at paul.ord@gcu.ac.uk or +44 (0)141 331 3569.
Hub members
- Professor Suzanne Hagen
- Dr Kirsteen Goodman
- Dr Lorna Booth
- Ceri Sellers
- Lynn Melone
- Sylvia Dickson
- Dr Ryan Kean
- Dr Janet Finlayson
- Professor Carol Bugge
- Paul Ord
Find out more
