Urinary Diversion Device for Military Women in the Deployed Environment

Deployed military women (MW) have consistently reported problems associated with urination, urinary symptoms, and urinary tract infections (UTIs), yet there remains a lack of resources for resolution. This study's long term objective is to provide scientific support for implementing a self-care measure for urination that could decrease urinary complications in deployed MW and ultimately reduce urinary symptoms and UTIs. The proposed self-care measure is the female urinary diversion device (FUDD). Currently, there is a paucity of research regarding the FUDD.  The primary study aim is to explore the utility of the FUDD as a self-care measure for female urination in the deployment environment. A secondary aim is to determine if there is a difference in self-reported urinary symptoms and UTIs between the intervention group and the control group of deployed MW in austere environments. This randomized controlled trial with a repeated measures design will be conducted in a sample of MW (n = 90) deploying to an austere environment (outside the wire) in support of either OIF or OEF for a minimum of 6 months.  Recruitment will be at three different Military Pre-deployment Readiness Processing (PRP) centers in Germany. Consented participants will be randomly assigned by unit designation and geographical region to either the FUDD intervention group or control group. The intervention group will receive two FUDDs, instructions with a demonstration, and a FUDD use pocket card. Self-report surveys will be used to meet the study aims. Data will be collected prospectively at three different times: (1) a baseline assessment at the PRP center; (2) a group dependent deployment urinary survey at 3 months of deployment; and (3) the same group dependent deployment urinary survey at 6 months of deployment. Plan for analysis includes descriptive statistics, mixed ANOVA, and MANOVA.    

Relevance: Research supporting FUDD utility could provide nursing the basis for implementation of an inexpensive, safe, and easy to use self-care measure that could assist in alleviating female urinary difficulties, urinary symptoms, and UTIs in various settings. Results will add to the body of nursing science and provide support for further research in other populations (bed-rest patients, elderly, female pilots, humanitarian missions, etc.).

Final Report is available on NTRL: https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/PB2017100...