Elimination can be a sensitive issue and providing effective care and management for problems associated with it can sometimes be problematic. The difficulties associated with this can be minimized if the nurse seeks to respect the patient's dignity when carrying out procedures such as assisting them with using a bedpan or a commode.

Before commencing the procedure, ensure that appropriate equipment and staff are available for safe moving and handling of the patient and, depending on the patient's mobility, that either a bedpan or commode is available for immediate use (Figures 6.4 and 6.5).

Incontinence‐associated dermatitis (IAD) is a term used for the breakdown of the natural skin barrier that happens when the skin becomes macerated as a consequence of faecal and/or urinary incontinence (Yates [260]) and has been clearly differentiated from other forms of skin damage, such as pressure ulcers or skin tears (Gray et al. [91]). It can affect the perineum, buttocks, groin folds, labia majora (in women) or scrotum (in men) (Beeckman et al. [16]). Current nursing practice includes the use of a wide range of skin moisturizers and barrier creams with varying evidence of their efficacy and effectiveness (Gray et al. [91]). Callaghan et al. ([43]) suggest that barrier creams can be effective in promoting skin integrity when selected appropriately. A review suggests that the use of barrier creams with a pH near to that of normal skin can be useful in the prevention of skin problems (Beeckman et al. [17], Geraghty [86]).