School of Nursing Associate Professor Receives International Fellowship

School of Nursing Associate Professor Receives International Fellowship
Mary Wilde, R.N., Ph.D., Will Collaborate with United Kingdom Investigators on Catheter Research

Mary H. Wilde, R.N., Ph.D.

University of Rochester School of Nursing associate professor and researcher Mary H. Wilde, R.N., Ph.D., was recently awarded a four-week fellowship from the International Continence Society (ICS) to collaborate with United Kingdom investigators and develop research initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people with long-term, indwelling urinary catheters.

For over two decades, Wilde has focused on identifying, understanding and describing catheter-related problems from the perspective of the patient, and on developing effective self-management interventions. In August, Wilde will travel to England to share knowledge, expand relationships and develop a research proposal with microbiologists from Bristol Urological Institute’s BioMed Centre and the University of Southampton, who like Wilde, have led significant patient-focused research and initiatives in this area.

Her primary goal is to improve the quality of life for people whose incontinence issues require long-term catheter placement. These men and women, who may also cope with additional health issues, often experience distressful catheter-related problems such as urinary tract infection, blockage or obstruction of urine flow, accidental catheter dislodgement and urine leakage, all of which contribute to excess health care expense. Nurses in home care settings or clinics are often closely involved in trouble-shooting and managing these problems.

Wilde is principal investigator for eight clinically-focused studies related to bladder and catheter issues, and has authored more than 30 publications, including 11 data-based publications from six completed studies. However, she has few American colleagues in her area of interest due to the fact that most U.S. research has been medically oriented to address short-term catheter use in hospitals.

Her involvement in the ICS Nursing Committee enabled her to build relationships outside the U.S. that will continue to evolve through her fellowship. Specifically, she and the U.K. team will develop a research proposal related to urinary drainage bag decontamination, which was identified by the ICS  Nursing Education Subcommittee as a top priority in 2010.

“This fellowship will not only enhance my own research but research programs in the U.K. as well,” said Wilde. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to strengthen international collaborations and build a foundation for a larger network in catheter-related studies that could involve researchers in other countries.”

*  The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Rochester Medical Center