Neurogenic bowel after spinal cord injury from the perspective of support providers: a phenomenological study

Anthony S Burns; Daphney St-Germain; Maureen Connolly; Jude J Delparte; Andréanne Guindon; Sander L Hitzig; B Catharine Craven

doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2014.09.020

Neurogenic bowel after spinal cord injury from the perspective of support providers: a phenomenological study

PM R. 2015 Apr;7(4):407-16. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2014.09.020. Epub 2014 Oct 8.

Authors

Anthony S Burns¹, Daphney St-Germain², Maureen Connolly³, Jude J Delparte⁴, Andréanne Guindon⁵, Sander L Hitzig⁶, B Catharine Craven⁷

Affiliations

¹ Division of Physiatry, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Brain & Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program, University Health Network-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada∗. Electronic address: anthony.burns@uhn.ca.
² Faculty of Nursing Science, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Quebec City, QC, Canada(†).
³ Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, Saint Catharines, ON, Canada(‡).
⁴ Brain & Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program, University Health Network-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada(§).
⁵ Chercheure Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Réadaptation et Intégration Sociale (CIRRIS), Quebec City, QC, Canada(¶).
⁶ Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute for Life Course and Aging, Toronto, ON, Canada(||).
⁷ Brain & Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program, University Health Network-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Physiatry, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada(#).

PMID: 25305370
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2014.09.020

Abstract

Objective: To gain greater insight into the experience of support providers who assist and support individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) for the performance of bowel care.

Design: Qualitative (phenomenological) interviews and analysis.

Setting: Community.

Participants: Ten support providers of individuals with SCI.

Main outcome measurements: Themes related to supporting bowel care for individuals with SCI.

Results: Support providers identified concerns and challenges as well as sources of satisfaction related to the provision of bowel care to individuals with SCI. Traits and characteristics of effective support providers also emerged.

Conclusions: Individuals with SCI often require emotional, logistical, and/or physical assistance to complete bowel care. Exploration of neurogenic bowel care from the perspective of support providers identified concerns and challenges, sources of satisfaction, and important traits and characteristics of support providers. This information can facilitate the identification of effective support providers and the provision of enhanced training and support. Interventions of this nature can improve the experience for individuals with SCI and their supports.

Publication types

Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Caregivers
Family
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neurogenic Bowel / etiology*
Neurogenic Bowel / rehabilitation*
Professional-Patient Relations*
Social Support
Spinal Cord Injuries / complications*