Continence Research

NEAT (Nocturnal Enuresis Alarm Therapy) Study: Study into bed-wetting aims towards revolutionary new system for kids

Bed-wetting is a significant problem for many children. Ten per cent of school-aged children suffer from bed-wetting and, unfortunately, only one third of these children and families seek medical help for this debilitating problem.

The usual line of treatment is using a bed-wetting alarm to train children to become dry at night, however, up to one third of children who use devices currently on the market do not respond to this treatment. Some researchers at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead have developed a new type of wireless bedwetting alarm which they are testing in a clinical trial setting. They hope that their new device will be successful for up to 95 per cent of children.

The NEAT study commenced in May 2009 and recruited 350 participants with significant bed-wetting to use either the new alarm device or a commercially available alarm. After the participants completed their period of alarm treatment they have been followed up 2 monthly to check their progress post treatment, until they reached 12 months from commencement on the trial. Many have completed their involvement in the study with the remaining participants to finish follow up in January 2012. Once all the data collection has been finalised the results can be analysed with the outcome informing the researchers on the way forward in treatment options.

If you would like to know more about this study please contact Marianne Kerr by phone on 0429468883 or email MariannK@chw.edu.au

Staff

• Chief Investigator: Dr Patrina Caldwell
• Trial Coordinator: Sana Hamilton
• Recruitment Officer: Marianne Kerr
• Administration Assistant: Tamara Borysko
• Continence Physiotherapist: Suzie Taylor