The University of Nebraska Medical Center is seeking children ages 8 and older for a study on bed-wetting. The study uses medication and an alarm device to help children stay dry at night.
William Warzak, Ph.D., and John Walburn, M.D., both from the UNMC department of pediatrics, are directing the study. Participants will receive $25 at the beginning of the study and an additional $25 when they complete the project. The drugs and the alarm will be provided at no charge.
The study lasts 12 weeks with an additional 12 weeks of follow up. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Those taking a prescription drug, DDAVP; those using an alarm that wakes them and alerts them to wet pants or sheets; and those initially receiving no aid but who receive a bed-wetting alarm after a brief waiting period.
Dr. Warzak said the study will use a new tablet form of DDAVP. Previously, the drug was only available in a nasal spray form. “The tablet will be easier for children to take,” said Dr. Warzak. “We’re excited to be able to offer this new tablet form to our study participants.”
He noted that the tablet does not have any significant side effects. Between 5 million and 7 million American children older than age 5 are bed-wetters. The -over- condition can run in families and is more common in boys than girls. The study is not designed to test the effectiveness of bed-wetting treatments, Dr. Warzak said, but instead will examine the psychological and social aspects of receiving treatment.
For more information on the study, call (402) 559-6408.