Skip to main content

Bowel problems and coping strategies in people with multiple sclerosis.

Norton, C. and Chelvanayagam, S., 2010. Bowel problems and coping strategies in people with multiple sclerosis. British Journal of Nursing, 19 (4), 220 - 226 .

Full text available as:

[img]
Preview
PDF
MS British Journal of Nursing.pdf

205kB

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neurological disease, estimated to affect 100,000 people in the UK. Bowel symptoms are reported to be common in MS, with constipation affecting 29-43% and faecal incontinence affecting just over 50%. Both have an impact on quality of life. Very little is known about how people with MS manage their bowels and the effectiveness of different interventions. We conducted a 2-part survey of people with MS and bowel problems. MS Society members were invited to participate in an online survey: 155 replied. 47 people additionally filled in a more detailed postal questionnaire. In this self-selected sample, 34% spend more than 30 minutes a day managing their bowel. Managing bowel function was rated as having an impact equal to mobility difficulties on quality of life. Respondents used a wide range of strategies to manage their bowel but few were rated as very helpful. There is a need for high quality research on all aspects of managing bowel dysfunction in MS in order to improve patients' quality of life.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:0966-0461
Uncontrolled Keywords:Activities of Daily Living ; Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Aged ; Attitude to Health ; Constipation ; Cost of Illness ; Fecal Incontinence ; Female ; Great Britain ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Nursing Assessment ; Nursing Methodology Research ; Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Self Care ; Time Factors
Group:Faculty of Health & Social Sciences
ID Code:21148
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:30 Apr 2014 15:46
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 13:48

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

More statistics for this item...
Repository Staff Only -