How to fill out a bladder diary

Important

A bladder diary is a record of when a person normally passes urine. Some people may need help to fill out a bladder diary.

Bladder diaries are usually filled out as part of a continence assessment. It's important to fill out the bladder diary carefully, so that it provides useful information to the health care professional. A bladder diary should be kept over three days and nights.

What equipment do you need?

You will need:

• a pen
• a printed bladder diary - one page for each 24-hour period
• a collection container, e.g. an empty and clean ice-cream container
• a measuring jug
• disposable gloves.

Put all this equipment in or near the toilet, so the diary can be filled out each time the person passes urine.

How do you fill out the diary?

Wait until the person wants to go to the toilet and give them the help they need.

1. Put on disposable gloves.
2. Put the collection container in the toilet bowel before the person sits on the toilet.
3. After the person passes urine, throw any toilet paper or wipes into the toilet bowel, not the container.
4. Pour the urine into a measuring jug.
5. Write on the bladder diary how many millilitres of urine are in the container.
6. Empty the urine into the toilet and flush.
7. Rinse out the container and jug with water and leave to dry.
8. Take off gloves and wash your hands.
9. Complete the bladder diary entry by writing down the time and any other information asked for on the diary.

Need more help? Call the National Continence Helpline on 18OO 33 OO 66 and talk to a continence nurse advisor.

Extra Resources

• Bladder diary