Use of diapers vs. underpads for incontinent patients

[bmaury]

I would like to know what other nurses opinions are in the use of diapers vs. underpads for patients incontinent of bowel and/or bladder. Some coworkers believe diapers make patients skin more prone to breakdown, while others think that merely putting an underpad underneath a patient puts a patient more at risk of skin breakdown. What do you think?

[Cindy_A]

I work in LTC, and we use pads, which I think are better than diapers. We do use diapers however on those pts who have been given a laxative or suppository, because some of them like to use their feces as "fingerpaint"!